Australian Symbols: An Insight into the Nation’s Identity
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Australia is a relatively new country and yet it’s the home of the world’s oldest continuing culture, the Australian Aboriginals. As such, there are both new and ancient Australian symbols that represent the country and its distinctive national identity.
In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the most famous national and popular symbols and what they mean to Australians.
National Symbols of Australia
- National Day: 26th January
- National Anthem: Advance Australia Fair
- National Currency: Australian Dollar
- National Colors: Green and gold
- National Tree: Golden wattle
- National Flower: Golden wattle
- National Animal: Kangaroo
- National Bird: Emu
- National Dish: Roast lamb
- National Sweet: Pavlova
National Flag of Australia
The national Flag of Australia consists of three elements placed on a blue background.
The first element is the Union Jack seen in the left upper corner, which represents the history of the British settlement in Australia.
Just below it is the Federation or White Commonwealth star with its seven points. The seven points of the star represent the unity of the six states and federal territories of the Australian Commonwealth. The star is also featured on the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.
The third element of the Australian flag is the white Southern Cross. Five stars form this constellation, visible only from the southern hemisphere and used historically for navigation.
Coat of Arms of Australia
The Australian Coat of Arms, commonly known as the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, is one of the national symbols of Australia, first granted by King Edward VII in 1908. A shield with the symbols of Australia’s six states forms the center of the emblem, supported by a kangaroo on the left and an emu on the right—both native Australian animals.
The seven-pointed Federation or Commonwealth Star surmounts the crest and is symbolic of the territories and states of the country. Below the shield are floral emblems featuring the national tree the wattle, which serve as a background for the symbol.
Australian coins have featured the coat of arms since the early 20th century. It also denotes rank for army, navy, and air force officers.
Australian Aboriginal Flag
Designed by the Aboriginal artist Harold Thomas in 1971, the Australian Aboriginal Flag is a symbol of the Aboriginal people of Australia. The flag is equally and horizontally divided into two regions, one black and one red with a yellow circle superimposed over its centre.
The three colors of the flag each have a different symbolic meaning:
- Black is symbolic of the Aboriginal people of Australia
- Red represents the spiritual relation the people have to the land. It also represents the red ochre that’s often used in ceremonies and the red earth.
- The yellow circle in the center symbolizes the sun which is the protector and the giver of life.
Australians always fly the Aboriginal flag with the black half on top and the red half on the bottom. In July 1995, officials proclaimed it as a Flag of Australia, and since then, it has flown alongside the national flag.
Dot Painting
Dot painting uses a unique technique of arranging fine dots on canvas to form meaningful patterns. Aboriginal artists developed this style, known for its vibrant colors and use of traditional symbols.
There are many theories as to how dot paintings originated. It’s believed that prior to the advent of acrylic paints, these dots patterns were done on sand, as a way to pass on information to initiates. With more permanent painting techniques, Aboriginal people were able to create lasting pieces that showcase their unique art to the world.
Vegemite
Australians typically eat Vegemite, a salty spread, on buttered toast. Most people find it unappealing if they aren’t used to the taste, but for many Australians, Vegemite remains the preferred spread.
It was an extremely popular food product during WWII, capturing the Australian market. The Australian Army supplied Vegemite to troops when Marmite, a similar English spread, wasn’t available. In the mid-twentieth century, Vegemite represented Australian innocence and vitality. Today, it evokes nostalgia for simpler times and symbolizes the culture’s respect for the ordinary.
At one point in history, Vegemite was used to promote multiculturalism as an idea that’s characteristically Australian. Later on, as overseas travel gradually increased, Australians began to carry Vegemite with them around the world as a way of reaffirming their link to home.
Kangaroo
Kangaroos are the largest marsupials in the world and are indigenous to Australia. They are culturally and spiritually significant to the Australian Aboriginal people for whom their meat is a staple source of protein. Craftsmen used kangaroo skin to make water bags, rugs, and clothing, ensuring almost every part of the animal served a purpose.
Kangaroos can leap up to 8 meters and usually inhabit Australia’s arid regions, especially flat open plains. Some breeds, like the ‘Black Wallaroo,’ face extinction and are now protected by Australian Bush Heritage.
The kangaroo is also a symbol of importance in Australian Aboriginal art. Generally, it indicates abundance and gratitude which is why it’s a lucky animal totem to possess. It appears as a logo for Tourism Australia, Australian Made and also for Qantas, the famous Australian Airline.
Boomerang
The boomerang is a universally recognized symbol of Australia. For the Aboriginal people, it’s symbolic of cultural endurance. It’s also a tangible link to their presence on the continent over the years.
Aboriginal people have used the boomerang for centuries, symbolizing their deep connection to the land for the past 60,000 years. They used it as a weapon for hunting as well as for entertainment and sport. Boomerangs were first designed to bring down game and not to return back to their thrower. However, in Europe, they became acquisition items and later on, souvenirs for tourists.
Now considered one of the national symbols of Australia, the boomerang is featured in Australian military emblems. It expresses the desire that the wearer or recipient may return home ‘just like the boomerang’ itself.
Great Barrier Reef
The world’s largest coral reef network, the Great Barrier Reef lies off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It extends for over 2,300 kilometers and is made up of over 2,900 individual reefs. It’s one of the most important landmarks of Australia and a tourist hotspot.
Unfortunately, due to pollution and global warming, the Barrier Reef is experiencing significant coral bleaching, effectively killing off the coral gradually.
Billy Tin
Australians used the billy, a lightweight, cheap, and versatile metal container, for cooking or boiling water over fire in the harsh bush. By the late 19th century, it had become a symbol of bush life in Australia.
The billy is mentioned in the famous unofficial Australian anthem ‘Waltzing Matilda’. In this song, the swagman, a nomadic traveler searching for work:
‘sang and he watched and waited till his billy boiled’
The billy represented bush hospitality as well as the self-reliant, democratic Australian spirit. The billy is also associated with qualities considered to be characteristically Australian such as reliability and egalitarianism. Today it’s an object of nostalgia, symbolizing a simple and peaceful way of life that is now almost non-existent.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The People’s Reconciliation Walk in May 2000 saw about 250,000 people cross the bridge, symbolizing unity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. It took almost a decade for the completion of the steel bridge which was quick to become a major symbol used to promote immigration and tourism to Australia.
The Harbour Bridge also became a symbol of the ingenuity, modernity and progress of Australia, now considered one of the country’s most distinguished urban structures. It was also a symbolic bridge between the indigenous and non-indigenous Australians when it was crossed by about 250,000 people during the People’s Reconciliation Walk in May 2000.
Since 1998, Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations have climaxed with stunning fireworks displays from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which joined the Australian National Heritage List in March 2007.
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House, Australia’s most recognized building and one of the world’s most iconic, stands out for its stunning architectural design. It sits at the mouth of Sydney Harbor, near the Harbor Bridge, with its structure resembling ship sails.
The Opera House hosts multiple venues for performing arts events. Organizers often light it up to promote events or make statements. For instance, when Australia legalized marriage equality, they lit the sails in rainbow colors. The Opera House remains one of Australia’s most iconic buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wattle
The golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha Benth), is the national floral emblem of Australia which displays the national colors, gold and green when it’s flowering. Wattle is an extremely resilient plant that represents the resilience of the Australian people and can withstand the winds, bushfires and droughts that are quite common throughout the country.
The golden wattle was used long before the advent of Europeans to Australia. The indigenous people of Australia used to make a toffee-like, sweet substance from the gum of golden wattle by soaking it in water and honey and they also used the tannin of its bark for its antiseptic properties.
Many Australian stamps and awards have featured the golden wattle. Recently, it symbolizes reflection, remembrance, and unity across the country. In 1988, officials unofficially approved it as Australia’s national floral emblem.
Uluru
Famously known as ‘Ayers Rock’, Uluru is a large rock formation made of sandstone and located in central Australia. The rock is highly sacred to the Aboriginal people who live in this area and gave it its name. In 1873, a surveyor called William Gosse found the landmark and named it ‘Ayers Rock’ after Sir Henry Ayers, the Chief Secretary of South Australia at that time. Since then, it has been called by both names.
There are many Aboriginal myths, traditions and legends surrounding Uluru. The Aboriginal people believe that anyone who takes rocks from it will be cursed for life and suffer great misfortune. There have been several instances where people who had removed bits of rock from the formation had tried to return them, attempting to remove the said curse. For the Aboriginals, Uluru isn’t just a rock, but a resting place for ancient spirits in the area.
UNESCO now lists Uluru as a World Heritage Site, and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park protects most of the surrounding region.
It’s important to note that climbing Uluru was banned in 2019 out of respect for Indigenous beliefs.
Summing Up…
Australian symbols are unique, with many of them found nowhere else in the world. These symbols reflect the geographical isolation, the unique culture and history of the Aboriginal people, and the resilience and mateship of the Australian people.
Legislation designates some Australian symbols, like the national flag, as official. However, the wattle and kangaroo evolved from popular to official symbols over time. The billy and boomerang symbolized the continent long before the nation’s formation and now stand as cherished emblems of Australia’s past.past.
