What is the Mace?
The parliamentary Mace is an ornate sceptre which symbolises the authority of the House of Representatives and the Speaker. At the start of each day’s session of parliament, the Mace is carried into the chamber by the Serjeant-at-Arms where it is placed on a central table. The crown of the Mace always points to the government side of the chamber when the House is in session. The current Mace was a gift to the Parliament by the House of Commons and King George VI in 1951 and is made of gilt silver and gold. The gift marked the Jubilee year of the Australian federation. The head bears a royal crown, the Australian Coat of Arms, the royal cipher (monogram with the Queen’s initials) and emblems of the six Australian states. The head of the Mace is also etched with fruit, rams’ heads and wheat, symbolising the importance of Australia’s agricultural and sheep industry.
The parliamentary Mace is an ornate sceptre which symbolises the authority of the House of Representatives and the Speaker. At the start of each day’s session of parliament, the Mace is carried into the chamber by the Serjeant-at-Arms where it is placed on a central table. The crown of the Mace always points to the government side of the chamber when the House is in session. The current Mace was a gift to the Parliament by the House of Commons and King George VI in 1951 and is made of gilt silver and gold. The gift marked the Jubilee year of the Australian federation. The head bears a royal crown, the Australian Coat of Arms, the royal cipher (monogram with the Queen’s initials) and emblems of the six Australian states. The head of the Mace is also etched with fruit, rams’ heads and wheat, symbolising the importance of Australia’s agricultural and sheep industry.
