The Coat of Arms of the City of Melbourne, also known as the armorial bearings, is the official symbol of the City of Melbourne

City of Melbourne

The City of Melbourne is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central city area of Melbourne. The city has an area of 36 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 93,105 people. The city's motto is "Vires acquirit eundo" which means "She gathers strength as she...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. They were granted to the Corporation of the City by Letters Patent

Letters patent

Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...

 on 30 January 1940.

Arms

On a silver shield, a red cross (the cross of St George) with a narrow red bar is adjacent and parallel with each side of the cross. On the central part of the cross is a Royal Crown.

And in the four quarters, there are:

• The top left corner (first quarter), there is a fleece hanging from a red ring.

• The top right corner (second quarter), there is a black bull standing on a hillock.

• The lower left corner (third quarter), there is a spouting whale swimming in the sea.

• The lower left corner (forth quarter), There is a three-masted ship in full-sail.

Crest

Above the shield is the iron helmet with red and silver mantling

Mantling

In heraldry, mantling or lambrequin is drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield. In paper heraldry it is a depiction of the protective cloth covering worn by knights from their helmets to stave off the elements, and, secondarily, to decrease the effects of...

and above the helmet there is the silver and red wreath, and on the wreath there is a gold mural crown, which is a symbol of municipal government. Out of the mural crown rises the upper half of a kangaroo, facing the left side of the shield and looking backwards over its shoulder.

Supporters

There is a gold lion on each side of the shield, upright on its hind legs and with a black crown. Around each lion's neck is a red collar on which there are two five-pointed silver stars. A red chain, attached at the top to the collar, passes over each lion's back and body.

Motto

A scroll below the arms reads ‘Vires Acquirit Eundo’ which translates as ‘We gather strength as we go’.