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The Symbols of Victoria

Flag

VIC flagThe flag of Victoria has been flown since 1870. The current flag design was proclaimed in 1877 when the Royal Crown was added above the Southern Cross.

The white stars on the Victorian Flag have differing sizes and numbers of points (from eight to five), to signify the brilliance of each star in the constellation of the Southern Cross.

Coat of Arms

VIC Coat of ArmsThe Victorian Coat of Arms features a shield of blue with the five stars of the Southern Cross. Its supporters are two female figures (named Peace and Prosperity - the State's motto).

Victoria's floral emblem, common pink heath, grows from a grassy mound under the Shield. Above the shield is a wreath of silver and blue, and the torso of a kangaroo holding the Royal Crown.

Prosperity holds a horn of plenty (cornucopia) to symbolise rich harvests and she wears a circlet of golden cereal; Peace holds an olive branch - the symbol of peace.

The colour references are: Blue PANTONE® 541, Silver PANTONE® 877. These are also the State Colours.

Unauthorised use of the Coat of Arms is prohibited under the Unauthorised Documents Act 1958. Permission to use must be made in writing to the Chief of Protocol, Department of Premier and Cabinet, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne VICTORIA 3002.

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VIC badgeBadge

The badge of Victoria is taken from the State flag.

The colour reference for the shield is Blue PANTONE® 541.


Other Emblems

 

HoneyeaterThe Helmeted Honeyeater, one of the rarest birds in Victoria, was chosen to be Victoria's bird emblem in 1971. The honeyeater can only be found in southern Victoria.

The body of the Helmeted Honeyeater is olive grey, with the outer wing and tail feathers turning greenish-yellow. Its underpants are yellow-green with dark streaks. The sides of the head are glossy black with golden ear tufts and a yellow throat. It is 20 centimetres long and female birds lay two pink, spotted eggs in a cupped nest from spring to summer.

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PossumThe Leadbeater's Possum became a faunal emblem of Victoria in 1971. Once feared to be extinct, Leadbeater's Possums live in the great mountain ash forests of Victoria's central highlands. They were rediscovered in 1961 and now range over a large area.

These nimble little possums, whose tails can be longer than their bodies, jump from branch to branch, searching for insects on the leaves and under the bark, and eating nectar, insect honey-dew, sap and gum. Unlike other possums of their size, they do not have any gliding membrane between their legs.

Covered in soft grey-brown fur, these possums have beautifully marked faces and large, black eyes.

The Leadbeater's Possum is about 40 centimetres long from its nose to the end of its furry, club-shaped tail.

The possum's future depends on preservation of its natural habitat in the hardwood forests. The Leadbeater's Possum is found in population pockets, particularly where there are old growth trees with hollows to provide sites for nesting.

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Common Pink HeathCommon Pink Heath was adopted in 1958 as the floral emblem of the State of Victoria.

The Common Pink Heath actually comes in scarlet, crimson, rose, pink and white - the pink variety is Victoria's emblem.

The Common Pink Heath is a great survivor. It copes with frosts and is found mainly in southern Victoria's semi-shaded wet foothills, coastal heathlands and in the scrub of the Little Desert. It can also be found in New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.

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