South Australia

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Official blazon

Arms: Azure on the rising sun depicted as a roundel or an Australian Piping Shrike displayed and standing on the staff of a Gum Tree proper
Crest: on a wreath or Azure and Gules Four sprigs of Sturt's Desert Pea proper
Compartment: comprising a grassy mount and in front of two Vines growing therefrom each entwining their stakes proper on either side thereof stalks of Wheat and Barley and the dexter side scattered with Citrus Fruits and lying on the sinister side two Cog Wheels with between them a Miner's Pick also proper together with on a Scroll the name "South Australia

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on April 19, 1984, replacing arms granted from 1936 (image below).

The arms show the State's bird, the piping shrike. The bird was already used unofficially before 1936 as well, see below). .The grassy mound and the symbols thereon represents the agriculture, industry and mining in the State. The crest shows four flowers of the State flower, the Sturts desert pea.

The arms of 1936:

The arms also used a female figure holding a conucopia and a sheaf of barley, as well as a farmer holding a pair of shears and a fleece of wool as supporters. The crest showed a staff with a banner with the five stars of the Southern Cross and a lion. The motto was 'Faith and Courage.'

The initial 1984 design also showed a helmet and koala and wombat supporters, see below.

The proposal of 1984:

The arms as shown on an UK cigarette card from 1910	The arms as shown on an Australian cigarette card from 1910
The arms as shown on an German trade card from the 1930s