Broad Arrow - Use in Australia

Use in Australia

The broad arrow was not widely used for convict clothing during the early period of transportation, due to the lack of government issued uniforms. The Board of Ordnance took over supply in the 1820s, and uniforms from this period are marked with the broad arrow, and the mark can be seen on the so-called "magpie" uniforms. It continued to be used to denote government property in the Australian colonies from the earliest times of settlement until well after federation. William Oswald Hodgkinson's government-sponsored North-West Expedition in Queensland used the broad arrow to mark trees along the expedition's route. The broad arrow mark was also used on survey markers. It can still be seen on some Australian military property. The broad arrow brand is still used to mark trees as the property of the Crown, and is protected against unauthorised use. In Victoria, Australia for example, Part 4 of the Forests (Licences and Permits) Regulations 2009 states that "an authorised officer may use the broad arrow brand ... to mark trees in a timber harvesting area which are not to be felled; or to indicate forest produce which has been seized under the Act; or to indicate that forest produce lawfully cut or obtained is not to be removed until the brand is obliterated with the crown brand by any authorised officer. The broad arrow is currently by the Australian Army to denote property owned by the Department of Defence.