Western Australia, 1875
The country around Perth was originally called “The Swan River Settlement”, and in 1870 Governor Weld suggested that the Black Swan (cygnus atratus, native to Australia and the only non-white swan in the world) would be the obvious choice on a badge for the colony. On 3 January 1870 a state badge was approved, depicting a black swan facing to the right. It was officially adopted on 27 November 1875 and placed on the Blue Ensign, the first flag of the colony. The direction of the swan was changed in 1953 to conform with flag rules.