Order of Australia

The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service". The Order was established on February 14, 1975, when Queen Elizabeth II, acting in her capacity of Queen of Australia, signed Letters Patent instituting the Order. Before this date, Australian citizens received British honours. On May 24 1976 in London the Queen signed Letters Patent, countersigned by then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, with a schedule making provision for a further category of membership as Knight or Dame and for a Medal of the Order of Australia. Knights and Dames of the Order were to be entitled to the prefix "Sir" or "Dame", and the post-nominal initials AK or AD. The award of AK and AD was discontinued in the late 1980s by agreement of the Australian Labor Party Government and the Liberal-National Party coalition Opposition. On March 3, 1986 in Canberra the Queen signed Letters Patent, countersigned by then Prime Minister Robert Hawke, with a schedule revoking the category of Knight or Dame.

Insignia

The badge of the Order of Australia was designed by Stuart Devlin — a metalsmith who also designed the Australian currency. It is a convex disc (gold for ACs and AOs, gilt for AMs and OAMs) representing the golden wattle flower. At the centre is a ring, representing the sea, with the word 'Australia' below two branches of golden wattle. The whole disc is topped by the royal crown. The AC badge is decorated with citrines, blue enamelled ring, and enamelled crown. The AO badge is similar, without the citrines. For the AM badge only the crown is enamelled, and the OAM badge is plain.

Related Topics:
Stuart Devlin - Metalsmith - Convex - Gilt - Wattle - Crown - Citrine

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The ribbon of the Order is blue with a central stripe of golden wattle flower designs; that of the military division has additional golden edge stripes. Male ACs and AOs wear their badges on a necklet; male AMs and OAMs wear them on a ribbon on the left chest. Women usually wear their badges on a bow on the left shoulder, although they may wear male insignia if so desired.

Related Topics:
Wattle - Necklet

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