Great Seal of Australia as used from 1947 to 1954 during the reign of King George VI

The Great Seal of Australia (also known as the Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Australia) is one of Australia's national symbols. It is used on some important documents (such as officer commissions, judicial appointments and letters-patent for royal commissions) to demonstrate the approval of the Commonwealth.[1] The current design was authorised by royal warrant on 19 October 1973.[2] The department of Prime Minister and Cabinet currently holds custody of the seal.[3]

The current design features the coat of arms of Australia, beneath the words 'Elizabeth the Second' and above the words 'Queen of Australia'. Upon the then monarch's death and the ascension of Charles III to the Australian throne, the Governor-General approved the use of this seal, pending the approval of a new one by the current monarch.[4]

History

Obverse of the 1901 Great Seal of Australia, designed by David Henry Souter
Reverse of the 1901 Great Seal of Australia, designed by Blamire Young

The first great seal was chosen in 1901 by the Commonwealth government and depicts on one side the arms of Great Britain surrounded by the arms of the States of Australia. The other side depicts a woman on a charger, carrying a shield with a Union Jack design and in the hand a palm. Behind her is an image of the sun and beneath is the words 'Advance Australia'.[5] It was designed via competition, with entries by Bulletin cartoonist DH Souter and painter Blamire Young chosen for the design.[2] It also features on the Mace of the House of Representatives.[6]

The second design was authorised by Elizabeth II on 17 February 1954 while presiding over the Federal Executive Council in Canberra during her first visit as reigning monarch.[7]

The third and current design as was authorised by Elizabeth II on 19 October 1973 during another of her visits to Australia. On this occasion, the Queen also took on the style 'Queen of Australia', signifying the separate constitutional identity of the monarch from her role in other Commonwealth realms.[8]

State and territory seals

Queensland

Seal of the Colony of Queensland

The letters-patent establishing the colony of Queensland as an entity separate from New South Wales grants the governor the authority to keep and use the "Great Seal of the Colony".[9] The only surviving depiction of the seal is a hand seal for wax impressions, which depicts Queen Victoria on the Coronation Chair.[10] It is held by the Queensland Museum. After federation, a new seal design was created, which depicted the coat of arms of the UK held by a lion, next to the coat of arms of Queensland held by a kangaroo, above a banana tree.[10] It was deigned by Mr JW Purvis, a die maker and engraver following a public competition.[11] The inscription of the seal changed changed on the ascension of each monarch and the change of style of Queen Elizabeth II to Queen of Australia. The most current inscription reads "ELIZABETH THE SECOND BY THE GRACE OF GOD QUEEN OF AUSTRALIA AND HER OTHER REALMS AND TERRITORIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH".

Design for the Seal of State of Queensland

Western Australia

Seal of Western Australia

The great seal of Western Australia depicts the Royal Coat of Arms of the UK above a black swan. It has been used from 1837 until at least 1952.[12]

New South Wales

The New South Wales governor holds custody of the "Public Seal of the State".[13]

References

  1. ^ Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2021). Federal Executive Council Handbook (PDF) (Report). Commonwealth of Australia. paras 164–5. ISBN 978-1-925364-53-8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (2022). Australian Symbols (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN 0 642 47131 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 May 2023.
  3. ^ Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (10 May 2019). "The Governor-General and the Great Seal". Archived from the original on 10 April 2020.
  4. ^ Hurley, David (11 September 2022). "Instrument authorising the continued use of The Great Seal of Australia" (PDF). pmc.gov.au. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Australia's First Great Seal". Bendigo Advertiser. Vol. XLVIX, no. 14, 391. Victoria, Australia. 11 September 1901. p. 5. Retrieved 7 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Questions on Notice: Mace Head Revisited". Parliament of Australia. 13 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Authorises Use Of New Great Seal". Morning Bulletin. No. 29, 496. Queensland, Australia. 17 February 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 7 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Royal Style and Titles Act 1973 (Cth)". Museum of Australian Democracy. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  9. ^ Queen Victoria (6 June 1859). "Letters Patent erecting Colony of Queensland" (PDF). Documenting a Democracy. Museum of Australian Democracy. And we do hereby authorise and empower you the said Sir George Ferguson Bowen to keep and use the Great Seal of our said colony for sealing all things whatsoever that shall pass the Great Seal of our said colony
  10. ^ a b Kross, Gary (April 2000). History of the public seal of the colony and state of Queensland. Libraries Australia ID 40630245.
  11. ^ "Queensland State Seal". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LVIII, no. 13, 637. Queensland, Australia. 26 September 1901. p. 4 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Wanted, One Coat of Arms". The West Australian. Vol. 68, no. 20, 526. Western Australia. 3 May 1952. p. 19 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ Constitution Act 1902 (NSW) s 9H
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