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The Coat of Arms of Australia was made the official symbol of Australia in 1912 upon decree by King George V. The coat of arms consists of the shield in the center, the commonwealth crest that is above it, the animals that support the shield and wreath of flowers in the background.
The shield is the focal point of the coat of arms, contained within are the coats of arms of the Australian states and territories. In the top half, from left to right, the states represented are: New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. In the bottom half, from left to right: South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania.
Above the shield is the seven pointed star on a gold and blue crest, referred to as the commonwealth crest. Six of the points represent Australia's states, while the seventh stands for the territories.
The kangaroo and emu that support the shield are the unofficial animal emblem of the nation. This owes to them being native to Australia, and found only on that continent and being unable to walk backwards representing progress. In the background is a floral wreath, that stands for peace. At the bottom of the coat of arms is a scroll that contains the name of the nation.
