Australian Heraldry

It largely follows the Gallo-British tradition of heraldry also followed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand.

Australian heraldry

Present coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, since 1912
Heraldic tradition	Gallo-British
Governing body	Disputed

Australia does not have its own heraldic authority which grants or records arms, though the College of Arms in London claims to be "the official heraldic authority for...Australia". Its authority is disputed by the Australian Heraldry Society.

The Australian Heraldry Society argues that the heraldic authority for Australia is vested in the King of Australia, who can delegate that authority to whoever they choose. In response to questions submitted by the Society, on 7 February 2018 prime minister Malcolm Turnbull stated:

The practice of the College of Arms in England granting armorial bearings to Australians is well established as one way Australians can obtain heraldic insignia if they wish to do so.

There is nothing preventing any person or organisation from commissioning a local artist, graphics studio or heraldry specialist to design and produce a coat of arms or identifying symbol. Those arms would have the same standing and authority in Australia as arms prepared by the College of Arms in England.

Grants of heraldic arms to Australian residents or institutions may be made, depending on their eligibility, by the English College of Arms, Scottish Court of the Lord Lyon, Chief Herald of Ireland, Chief Herald of Canada, State Herald of South Africa or the various authorities in Spain, Belgium, Russia or other places.

The heraldry of Australia has added indigenous Australian animals to the existing heraldic bestiary, along with native plants and occasionally traditional motifs of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.

National arms

•  
  Coat of arms of Australia (1912–present)
•  
  Coat of arms of Australia (1912–present), escutcheon only
•  
  Coat of arms of Australia (1908–1912)

Arms of states and territories

•  
  Coat of arms of New South Wales
•  
  Coat of arms of Victoria
•  
  Coat of arms of Queensland
•  
  Coat of arms of South Australia
•  
  Coat of arms of Western Australia
•  
  Coat of arms of Tasmania
•  
  Coat of arms of the Northern Territory
•  
  Coat of arms of Norfolk Island

Civic arms

•  
  Coat of arms of Sydney
•  
  Coat of arms of Melbourne
•  
  Coat of arms of Brisbane
•  
  Coat of arms of Adelaide
•  
  Coat of arms of Perth
•  
  Coat of arms of Hobart
•  
  Coat of arms of Canberra, also used as the de facto coat of arms of the ACT
•  
  Coat of arms of Darwin
•  
  Coat of arms of Launceston, Tasmania
•  
  Coat of arms of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales

Personal arms

•  
  Coat of arms of former governor-general Sir Ninian Stephen
•  
  Coat of arms of former governor-general Sir Paul Hasluck
•  
  Coat of arms of former governor-general Lord Richard Casey

Corporate/Institutional arms

•  
  Coat of arms of Monash University
•  
  Coat of arms of ANZ
•  
  Coat of arms of the Bank of New South Wales
•  
  Coat of arms of David Jones Limited
•  
  Coat of arms of CPA Australia

•  
  Badge of the Governor-General of Australia
•  
  Badge of the Royal Australian Navy
•  
  Badge of New South Wales
•  
  Badge of Victoria
•  
  Badge of Queensland
•  
  Badge of South Australia
•  
  Badge of South Australia (1876–1904)
•  
  Badge of Western Australia
•  
  Badge of Tasmania
•  
  Badge of the Northern Territory

The Australian Heraldry Society was founded in Melbourne in 1992, originally as Heraldry Australia before changing its name in 2008. The society has its roots in the Australian branch of The Heraldry Society of England, which was established in Melbourne in 1973.

The object of the society is "to promote the advancement of education in the science, art, history, practice and development of heraldry and allied subjects and the encouragement of their study and practice in Australia". They produce a bi-monthly newsletter, called The Red Escutcheon, and a triannual journal, called Heraldry in Australia.