Symbolism
The various symbols of the coat of arms are explained below:
- The crown symbolises Royal authority;
- The mace symbolises the Parliament of Australia;
- The sword symbolises the Australian Defence Force;
- The castle has three towers, symbolise the three branches of government (executive, legislature and judiciary);
- The white rose is the badge of the Duke of York who opened the old Parliament of Australia building in 1927, and who would later be crowned as King George VI of the United Kingdom.
- The crowned portcullis again symbolises the parliament, this being the traditional symbol of the Palace of Westminster (which houses the Parliament of the United Kingdom);
- Behind the portcullis is a tree, symbolises Canberra's nickname "The Bush Capital";
- The supporters are the Australian black swan, representing the Australian Aborigines, and the European white swan, representing the white settlers.
- The motto is "For the Queen, the Law and the People" which is the English translation of "Pro Rege, Lege et Grege".
Read more about this topic: Coat Of Arms Of Canberra
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