Council symbols

Brisbane City Council uses the following official symbols to represent our city's presence.

Coat of arms

Brisbane's coat of arms features two gryphons supporting the city shield. Gryphons are mythological creatures, chosen to represent the city because of their spirited nature.

The shield's design is a tribute to Sir Thomas Brisbane, a prominent astronomer. The shield's symbols represent commercial activity and peace, while the motto Meliora Sequimur means 'We aim for the best'.

The city's colours, blue and gold, are reflected in the wreath at the top.  

Corporate logo

Council's corporate logo features the historic Brisbane City Hall.

For many Brisbane people, City Hall is our city's community and cultural centre.

It is also a place of stability, which has weathered the years of development around it.

Faunal emblem

The graceful tree frog became Brisbane City's faunal emblem in 1996.

The frog is noted for its beautiful colours, which can change from bright green to olive brown, and distinctive rain-song.

You can hear the frogs singing during the spring and summer rains. 

Flag

Brisbane's flag is based on the coat of arms and is flown daily in King George Square outside City Hall.

The flag features gold caducei (winged staffs entwined and serpents), gold gryphons, gold Stafford knots, white stars and white navy lines on a blue background.

Floral emblem

When Brisbane City Council was formed on 1 October 1925, the red poinsettia was chosen as the floral emblem.

Although native to Mexico, the poinsettia grows perfectly in Brisbane, bringing a splash of colour to winter gardens. 

Download Symbols

You can download a PDF document containing Council symbols. This is a printable set for students and teachers.

Brisbane City Council symbols (PDF - 1567kb)*

* Due to the large file size, this document may take a while to download.