Papers on Parliament No. 47 Prev | Contents The Australian
national flag has become the most familiar of our national
symbols. Less familiar is the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.
Parliament House in Canberra, completed in 1988, displays both
the flag high above the building, day and night, and the coat of
arms above its front entrance. Image 1: Parliament House,
Canberra, showing the Australian Coat of Arms and flag The bold
central display at Parliament House provides a sharp contrast to
the two sets of flags and arms—British and Australian—on
Australia’s provisional parliament house completed in 1927, now
known as Old Parliament House. The Union Jack and Australian
blue ensign flew above the roof of that building, not every day
but on special flag days. That dual display of flags has now
gone. But the coats of arms, now painted (but not accurately)
can still be seen above the rounded feature windows either side
of the front entrance: the British arms on the left with
English, Scottish and Irish symbols; and the