Mace

The Mace in the House of Representatives.

DPS Auspic

The Mace in the House of Representatives.

DPS Auspic

Description

This image shows the gold coated Mace in the House of Representatives chamber. The Mace is positioned on brackets at the end of a large table in the middle of the room.

Copyright information

Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.

What is the Mace?

The Mace is the symbol of the power of the House of Representatives and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. At the start of each sitting day, the Mace is carried into the House by the Serjeant-at-Arms and placed on the central table. The crown of the Mace always points to the government and the Australian Coat of Arms faces up. The Mace stays on the table while the House is meeting. When the House is not meeting, the Mace is stored in the Speaker’s Office.

The Mace accompanies the Speaker during formal occasions. Traditionally the Mace does not enter the Senate. At the opening of Parliament, the Mace sits outside the Senate covered by a cloth as the Governor-General gives the opening speech.

Detail of the Mace.

DPS Auspic

Detail of the Mace.

DPS Auspic

Description

This image is a close up view of the Mace used in the House of Represntatives. It shows the head of the Mace with the royal crown and Australia's Coat of Arms clearly visible.

Copyright information

Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.

Design

The Mace was a gift to the Australian Parliament by the British House of Commons and King George VI in 1951. It celebrated the jubilee year—50^th anniversary—of federation. It was made in London to look like the Mace used in the British House of Commons.

Some features of the Mace are;

• It is made of solid silver with gold plating and weighs approximately 8 kilograms.
• The larger end has a royal crown, the Australian Coat of Arms, the royal cipher—a monogram with King George VI’s initials—and emblems of the 6 Australian States.
• Designs of wheat and fruit reflect Australia’s agricultural industry.

History

The tradition of the Mace in the House of Representatives comes from the British House of Commons. From the 11th century in England, royal Serjeants-at-Arms were officers who remained close to the King or Queen. The royal Serjeant-at-Arms carried a mace stamped with the Royal Arms, which gave them the authority to arrest a person without a written warrant in the monarch’s name. By 1415, the House of Commons had appointed its own Serjeant-at-Arms to serve the members of the House.