Armorial of the governors-general of Australia

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Badge of the governors-general of Australia

The following is an armorial of the individuals who have served as governor-general of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Several Australian governors-general have been granted armorial achievements, commonly referred to as coats of arms, with many having been inherited.


Coats of arms of governors-general[edit]

No. Portrait Name[1][2] Arms Blazon Full achievements
1 John Adrian Louis Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun[a] Escutcheon: Azure, on a chevron or, between three bezants, a laurel leaf, vert.

Crest: A broken terrestrial globe, surmounted by a rainbow proper.

Supporters: Two figures of “Hope” habited, proper, each resting the exterior hand on an anchor.

Motto: At spes non fracta (But my hope is not broken)[3][4]

2 Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson Escutcheon: Gules, a bend nebuly or, thereon a chaplet vert, between three leopard's heads jessant-de-lys of the second.

Crest: A dexter arm in armour, the hand in a gauntlet or, grasping a broken tilting spear enfiled with a garland of laurel.

Supporters: Two leopards rampant guardant gules, semée de lys and ducally crowned or.

Motto: Respiciens Prospiciens (Look backward and forward)[5][6]

3 Henry Stafford Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote Escutcheon: Argent, three cross-crosslets in bend sable, a crescent for difference.

Crest: Upon a chapeau gules, turned-up ermine, a stag trippant argent, charged on the shoulder with a crescent for difference.

Supporters: Two stags proper, pendant from the neck of each by a gold chain an escutcheon ermine, thereon a pine cone or, and charged on the shoulder with a crescent for difference.

Motto: Christi crux est mea lux (The cross of Christ is my light)[7]

4 William Humble Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley Escutcheon: Chequy, or and azure, a bend ermine.

Crest: Out of a ducal coronet or, a lion's head azure.

Supporters: Two angels proper, hair and wings or, under robe sanguine, upper robe azure.

Motto: Comme je fus (As I was)[8][9]

5 Thomas Denman, 3rd Baron Denman Escutcheon: Argent, on a chevron between three lions' heads erased Gules, as many ermine spots Or.

Crest: A raven rising Proper, in the beak an annulet Or.

Supporters: On either side a lion Gules, charged on the body with five ermine spots in cross Or.

Motto: Prudentia Et Constantia (By prudence and constancy)[10][11]

6 Sir Ronald Craufurd Munro-Ferguson Escutcheon: Argent, a lion rampant azure, between three buckles gules, a chief chequy of the first and second.

Crest: A demi-lion proper holding between the paws a buckle gules.[12][13]

Supporters: Dexter, an emu, sinister, an eagle, both proper.

Motto: Virtutis fortuna comes (Fortune is the companion of virtue)[14]

7 Henry William Forster, 1st Baron Forster Escutcheon: Argent, on a chevron between three hunting horns sable a martlet or.

Crest: A dexter arm in armour embowed grasping in the hand a broken tilting lance or, the rerebrace charged with a cross pattée sable.

Supporters: Dexter, a 2nd Lieutenant, of the King's Royal Rifle Corps; sinister, a Lieutenant, of the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys); both proper.

Motto: Fide et fortitudine (By fidelity and fortitude)[15]

8 John Lawrence Baird, 1st Baron of Stonehaven Escutcheon: Per pale engrailed gules and or, a boar passant counterchanged.

Crest: A griffin's head erased or.

Supporters: Two griffins, wings expanded or, each holding in its interior claw a thistle slipped proper.

Motto: Dominus fecit (The Lord did it)[16]

9 Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs No arms known
10 Sir Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie Escutcheon: Paly of six argent and gules.

Crest: A ram's head couped sable, armed or.

Supporters: Two goats sable, armed, unguled and ducally gorged Or, with chains also or reflexed over the back.

Motto: Deid schaw (Show a deed)[17]

11 Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester The royal arms, differenced with a label of three points argent, the centre bearing a lion rampant gules, and the outer points crosses gules.[18][19]
12 Sir William John McKell No arms known
13 Field Marshal Sir William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim Escutcheon: Gules semée of swords erect argent a lion rampant or, on a canton quarterly azure and also argent a mullet of seven points or.

Crest: Out of a crown vallary or a peacock in its pride proper gorged with a collar and with a line reflexed over the back or.

Motto: Merses Profundo Pulchrior Evenit (A recompense is fairer from a depth)[20]

14 William Shepherd Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil Outside Scotland:


In Scotland:

Outside Scotland:

Escutcheon: Azure on a pale ermine between two gannets reversed volant to the dexter their wings expanded palewise proper a representation of the mace of the House of Commons or.

Crest: A Viking galley with one mast and sail furled proper flying from the masthead a pennon argent charged with a raven volant sable.

Motto: An Tighnearna Mo Bhuachaille (The Lord is my Shepherd)[21]

In Scotland:

Escutcheon: Per bend sinister gules and argent a demi-lion rampant issuant or armed and langued azure holding in his paws a battle axe the shaft curved of the third and the axehead of the fourth in chief and in base issuant from the sea undy vert and or a tower sable windows and port or over all a bend sinister embattled azure charged with an open crown or jewelled gules between two fleurs-de-lis argent; within a bordure vert for difference.

Crest: Issuant from waves of the sea azure crested argent a mount vert thereon an embattled wall azure masoned argent charged with a portcullis or and issuant therefrom a cubit arm naked proper the hand grasping a dagger azure hilted or.

Supporters: On either side a lion regardant or armed and langued gules collared vert supporting between the exterior forepaw and interior hindpaw a battleaxe azure the shaft embowed.

Mottos: Above the Crest: Teaghlach Phabbay (Pabbay family); Below the Shield: An Tighnearna Mo Bhuachaille (The Lord is my Shepherd)[22]

15 William Phillip Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle Escutcheon: Or, a pheon azure.

Crest: A porcupine statant azure quilled, collared and chained or.

Supporters: Dexter, a porcupine azure quilled, collared and chained or; sinister, a lion double queued vert.

Motto: Quo fata vocant (Whither the Fates call me)[23]

16 Richard Gardiner Casey, Baron Casey Escutcheon: Per chevron sable and azure in chief a cogwheel and sun in splendour or in base above four barrulets wavy a representation of the constellation of the Southern Cross argent.

Crest: A sea gull wings expanded proper.

Supporters: Dexter an Australian worker of European stock habited in a white shirt and khaki trousers, sinister an Asian worker habited in a white coat and dhoti all Proper.

Motto: Vis Et Unitas (Strength And Unity)[24]

17 Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck Escutcheon: Per pale and per chevron or and azure three catherine wheels within a bordure all counterchanged.

Crest: On a wreath of the colours, in front of a star of seven points or a blackboy (Xanthorrhoea) flowered sable.

Supporters: On the dexter side an Australian pelican (Pelicanus conspicillatus) and on the sinister side a Western Australian pied cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius) proper.[25][26]

18 Sir John Robert Kerr Escutcheon: Ermine a mimosa flower ensigned with the Royal Crown proper on a chief gules a heart or between two pierced mullets of seven points argent.

Crest: A wedge-tailed eagle and a bird-of-paradise respectant proper supporting a sword point upward argent hilt and pommel or.

Supporters: On the dexter side a unicorn argent crined and unguled or and on the sinister side a griffin also or each supporting a sword point downwards argent hilt and pommel or.

Motto: Independence under law[27][28]

19 Sir Zelman Cowen No arms known
20 Sir Ninian Stephen Escutcheon: Argent a fess azure between three thistle flowers slipped each between and conjoined to two sprays of wattle flowered and leaved all proper six ermine tails semy Gold.

Crest: An Australian king parrot proper upon a branch of eucalyptus also proper.[29]

21 William George Hayden No arms known
22 Sir William Patrick Deane No arms known
23 Peter Hollingworth No arms known
24 Major General Michael Jeffery No arms known
25 Dame Quentin Bryce No arms known
26 General Sir Peter Cosgrove No arms known
27 General David John Hurley[b] A coat of arms was created for David Hurley in his capacity as Governor of New South Wales in 2019, prior to becoming Governor General.[30]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The first governor-general of Australia.
  2. ^ Current governor general.

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates text from these sources, which are in the public domain:

  1. ^ "Former Governors-General". www.gg.gov.au. The Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General (OOSGG). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Countries An-Az". www.rulers.org. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  3. ^ Debrett's peerage, baronetage, knightage, and companionage. London : Dean & Son. 1903. p. 516, LINLITHGOW, MARQUESS OF. (Hope.). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  4. ^ Paul, James Balfour (1907). The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of that Kingdom. Volume IV. Edinburgh : D. Douglas. pp. 484–505, Linlithgow. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  5. ^ Debrett's peerage, baronetage, knightage, and companionage. London : Dean & Son. 1903. p. 798, TENNYSON, BARON. (Tennyson.). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  6. ^ Burke, Bernard; Burke, Ashworth P. (1915). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and Companionage (77th ed.). London : Harrison & Sons. pp. 1945–1946, TENNYSON. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  7. ^ Debrett's peerage, baronetage, knightage, and companionage. London : Dean & Son. 1903. p. 630, NORTHCOTE, BARON. (Northcote.). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  8. ^ Debrett's Peerage, and Titles of Courtesy. London, Dean. 1921. p. 313, DUDLEY, EARL OF. (Ward.). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  9. ^ Burke, Bernard; Burke, Ashworth P. (1915). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and Companionage (77th ed.). London : Harrison & Sons. pp. 675–676, DUDLEY. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  10. ^ Debrett's Peerage, and Titles of Courtesy. London, Dean. 1921. p. 279, DENMAN, BARON. (Denman.). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  11. ^ Burke, Bernard; Burke, Ashworth P. (1915). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and Companionage (77th ed.). London : Harrison & Sons. pp. 613–614, DENMAN. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Ferguson Coat of Arms Meanings and Family Crest Artwork". coadb.com: Coat of Arms, Surname Histories, Genealogy. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Crest of the Day: Viscount Novar". officeofthelordlyon.blogspot.com. Court of the Lord Lyon. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  14. ^ Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage And Companionage. 1923. p. 703, NOVAR, VISCOUNT. (Munro-Ferguson). Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  15. ^ Debrett's Peerage, and Titles of Courtesy. London, Dean. 1921. p. 380, FORSTER, BARON. (Forster.). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  16. ^ Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, And Companionage. 1936. p. 917, STONEHAVEN, BARON. (Baird.). Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  17. ^ Debrett's peerage and baronetage. London : Debrett's Peerage : Macmillan. 1985. p. 513, GOWRIE, EARL OF (Ruthven). ISBN 978-0-333-37824-3. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  18. ^ Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, And Companionage. 1936. p. 9, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Marks of cadency in the British royal family". www.heraldica.org. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  20. ^ Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. London : Debrett's Peerage : Macmillan. 1985. p. 1109, SLIM, VISCOUNT. (Slim.). ISBN 978-0-333-37824-3. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  21. ^ Manning, Baz (1 January 2011). "133 Speaker Morrison, 1951-1959. English arms". Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  22. ^ Manning, Baz (10 September 2011). "133 Speaker Morrison, portrait armorial name plate. Scottish arms". Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  23. ^ Burke, Bernard (1962). The general armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales : comprising a registry of armorial bearings from the earliest to the present time. [London] : [W. Clowes]. p. 927. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  24. ^ Debrett's Peerage. 1973.
  25. ^ "A HISTORY AND DETAILED GUIDE TO ST GEORGE'S CATHEDRAL PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA" (PDF). www.perthcathedral.org. Perth Cathedral. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  26. ^ Hasluck, Sir Paul (1995). Light that Time Has Made. National Library Australia. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-642-10652-0. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Kerr, Sir John GCMG - Ermine a Mimosa flower ensigned with the Royal Crown proper on a Chief Gules a Heart Or between two pierce… | Heraldry, Mimosa flower, Ermine". Pinterest. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  28. ^ Whitlam, Gough (1 January 2005). The Truth of the Matter. Melbourne Univ. Publishing. pp. 233–234. ISBN 978-0-522-85212-7. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  29. ^ "HERALDRY OF SIR NINIAN STEPHEN" (PDF). The Friends of St George's & Descendants of the Knights of the Garter | Annual Review 2016/17. IX (8): 484–485. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  30. ^ "Discover More". www.governor.nsw.gov.au. Governor of New South Wales. Retrieved 28 December 2022.