Coat of Arms

Mackay’s Coat of Arms was received from the College of Arms, London, in April 1974. It was designed to portray Mackay, its past, present and future, and to preserve a tie with the city’s founder, Captain John Mackay.

The Armorial Bearings are framed and housed in the Board Room, located in the Sir Albert Abbott Administration Building in Gordon Street, Mackay. The Bearings are protected by by law, and may be used only with the express consent of council.

The Coat of Arms has been temporarily taken down until a suitable location is found.

What does it mean?

The Armorial Bearings are properly described, as follows: -

Arms: "Per Chevron Or and Barry wavy Argent and Azure in chief two lozenges Sable and in base a Red Emperor Fish naiant proper a Chief embattled Vert".

The shield is divided by a chevron. The waves and the Red Emperor, a popular reef fish, suggest "the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef’. Arms of the Clan Mackay contain a Chevron and thus there is a tie to the Clan Mackay. The two Lozenges Sable (Black Diamonds) on the shield allude to coal mining. The embattled Chief (the embattlement on the upper part of the Shield) indicates Mackay, a City.

Crest: "On a wreath Or and Azure between two Hibiscus Flowers a representation of Captain Cook’s Ship the Endeavour Bark proper on Water Barry wavy Argent and Azure".

The Hibiscus is the floral emblem of Mackay and so is included in the Arms. The representation of Captain Cook’s ship, Endeavour, recalls the initial discovery and exploration of the Whitsunday area.

Supporters: "On either side a Steer guardant each supporting between the forelegs a Cane of the Sugar Plant leaved proper that to the dexter resting the interior hind hoof upon a Roundel embattled Or and that to the sinister resting the interior hind hoof upon a piece of Coral proper".

The cattle are an allusion to both the cattle and dairying industries. The cane, of course, refers to the sugar industry. The roundel embattled Or (a golden cog wheel) suggests manufacturing industries whilst the coral alludes to the tourist industry and the Great Barrier Reef).

Motto: "Manu Forti"

"With a strong hand" – This motto is contained on the Clan Mackay Coat and was included in the Coat of Captain John Mackay, the discoverer of Mackay (although this Coat was not registered) and in the coat of his son, the late R.H. Mackay.

The Helmet and mantle are an integral part of every Coat of Arms and are not particularly described. However, from the material of which the helmet is composed and the disposition of the Visor, the rank of the holder is depicted. In this Coat, the helmet being of polished steel, in profile and with the visor closed, indicates the rank of a gentleman or esquire.

Heraldry is an absorbing subject and an explanation of some of the terms used here follows: -

• Argent: Silver
• Arms: The Arms are depicted upon the Shield
• Azure: Blue
• Barry Wavy: Curved bars undulating like waves of the sea
• Base: The lower part of the Shield
• Chief: The upper part of the Shield
• Dexter: To the viewer’s left. (The right hand of the Shield)
• Dimidiating: Halving; splitting in two
• Lozenge: A diamond shaped figure but not rectangular
• Naiant: Swimming, the fish being in the horizontal position
• Or: Gold
• Proper: In its natural colour and form
• Sable: Black
• Sinister: To the viewer’s right. (The left hand of the Shield)
• Vert: Green
• Badge: "The head of a Red Emperor Fish proper dimidiating a roundel embattled Or"

(In this, two ideas are combined (a) Mackay, being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday passage and (b) industry and manufacture.)