Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms in current use by the Council of the City of Sydney was adopted as a visual identification in 1996 and adapts elements of the Coat of Arms which was formally granted by the College of Arms in 1908.

Historical Development of the Coat of Arms

One of the first duties of the Council following its incorporation in 1842 was to acquire a seal to authenticate its documents.

The first seal was simply inscribed with the name of the Council and the date of incorporation. Fifteen years later, a draughtsman in the City Surveyors Department, M. de St Remy, designed a new seal using heraldic symbols denoting aspects of the Citys history.

The shield featured, as its main charge, a ship, reflecting the maritime history and importance of Sydney. Above this, in the upper third of the shield (known as the chief), was a rising sun, later replaced by a beehive, the symbol of industry. The shield was supported on one side by an Australian aborigine, and on the other by a British sailor. The motto "I take but I surrender"was inscribed on a scroll beneath the shield.

Although de St Remys original design was never formally submitted to the English Kings of Arms for a formal grant, it was the basis for subsequent developments and was used with slight variations throughout the 19th century.

In 1902 the City of Sydney was granted a Royal Warrant which created the Lord Mayoralty and entitled the mayor to be styled Lord Mayor of Sydney, as a "mark of respect for the standing of the city in the Empire".

Sydneys first Lord Mayor, the Rt Hon Thomas Hughes recommended that Council commission a new Coat of Arms and submit a petition for these Arms to be granted by the English Kings of Arms in London.

The new design created by Sydney heraldic designer, W. P. Ward, used some of the features of the St Remy. In place of the rising sun, the chief now honoured individuals significant in the history of Sydney.

It featured the arms of Thomas Townshend, (Viscount Sydney), after whom the city was named (right) recognised the important role he played as Principal Under-Secretary of State in the British Government in 1788, the year the colony of New South Wales was proclaimed.

It also included the Naval Flag of England, denoting the contribution of Captain Arthur Phillip in the foundation of the colony, overlaid with a globe and two stars, the principal features of the posthumous arms of Captain Cook (centre).

The final version, which was granted by the English Kings of Arms in 1908, included the arms of the first Lord Mayor of Sydney, the Rt Hon Thomas Hughes, M.L.C..

Modern Interpretation

The modern version of the Coat of Arms features a shield charged with a crown and anchor, both traditional heraldic symbols which have long been the images associated with the City of Sydney. The anchor represents the discovery of Australia by a naval officer, and the choice of Sydney Harbour as the site for settlement.

The mural crown denotes the power and authority of a city. The upper third of the shield, remains divided vertically into thirds and features simplified versions of the arms of Thomas Townshend; Captain Cook and Sir Thomas Hughes.

Together, these symbols represent the naming of Sydney, the British contribution to the establishment of Sydney, and Sydneys emergence as a great maritime port city. The six pointed star, or "mullet", above the shield is a traditional motif derived from European heraldry.

The human figures have been removed, along with the motto, and replaced by a serpent and a coiled rope flanking the shield. The serpent represents the Rainbow Serpent, a creator-being said to have formed the landscape in the Dreamtime as it travelled through the country. It bears the markings used by the Eora people, who lived in the area on which Sydney was founded.

The maritime imagery of the rope and anchor highlights the diverse cultural origins of the people of Sydney, while the entwined rope and serpent suggest cultural harmony.

(Sourced from the City of Sydney website)