National symbols of Australia

National symbols of Australia are the symbols that are used to represent what is unique about the nation, reflecting different aspects of its cultural life and history.

Official symbols

	Symbol	Image	Adopted	Remarks
Flag	Flag of Australia	Australian National Flag	3 September 1901	The flag includes the Southern Cross, Union Flag and Commonwealth Star.
Coat of arms	Coat of arms of Australia	Commonwealth Coat of Arms	19 September 1912	Granted by King George V; an earlier design was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and it continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on the sixpenny coin until 1966.
National anthem	Advance Australia Fair		19 April 1984
National colours	Green and gold		19 April 1984	Green and gold are also the traditional team colours of Australian national sporting teams.
National Floral Emblem	Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha	Golden Wattle	19 August 1988	It is a tree which flowers in late winter and spring
National Gemstone	Opal	Opal	27 July 1992	Opal production was worth $71.4 million to Australia in 2003 and supports many communities in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.

Unofficial emblems

	Symbol	Image	Remarks
National animals	Red kangaroo Macropus rufus	Red Kangaroo	Unofficial national mammal emblems
National bird	Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae	Emu	Unofficial national Bird emblems
National dances	Bush dance, corroboree among Australian Aborigines		Unofficial national dances
National dish	Meat pie, roast lamb		Unofficial national dish
National musical instrument	Didgeridoo		Unofficial national musical instrument
National personification	Boxing kangaroo, Little Boy from Manly		Unofficial national personifications

Australian Icons

The flag of Australia flying atop Parliament House in Canberra, with a sculpture of the coat of arms in the foreground.

Icons of Australian culture are almost as well known by Australians and visitors as unofficial symbols.

	Image	Remarks
Akubra Hat	Akubra Hat
Bondi Beach
Bushranger
Driza-Bone
Great Barrier Reef
Ned Kelly	Ned Kelly
Outback
Stockman
Sydney Harbour Bridge	Sydney Harbour Bridge from Circular Quay
Sydney Opera House	Sydney Opera House	Open since 1973, it has come to represent 'Australia'.
Uluru	Uluru	Uluru is one of Australia’s most recognisable natural icons
Vegemite

See also

• List of symbols of states and territories of Australia

External links

• Symbols and Icons -Prime Minister of Australia website
• Symbols - Its an Honour
• Our national symbols