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I have been working through archive records dealing with the Order of Australia but, as not all the records I am interested in have been digitised, I still cannot find out the precise details of HM's insignia as the Sovereign head of the Order.

I strongly suspect that the Sovereign's insignia has only one item -- the large badge.

I found records which stated that the Sovereign's insignia was to be the same size as the breast badge of a Knight/Dame. (Initially Australia had such a classification until 1986). Those badges were to be in gold, jewelled and 80mm in diameter. The difference was to be that the Sovereign's badge was to be augmented to reflect the dignity of the sovereign.

I haven't been able to find out what gemstones were used in the Queen's badge. I did see a document which stated that, initially, Stuart Devlin, the designer, wanted to use Australian yellow sapphires on the badges of the Knights/Dames and the Companions.

I suspect that either so called champagne diamonds or yellow sapphires have been used.

What do others think might have been used?





As with other Orders there are rules about how items are to be worn with various styles of dress etc. One of those covers the situation where day dress is called for on occasions when official directions indicate that medals are to be worn. None of those mention what the sovereign is to do!
In the case of female holders they were to use the neck badge with a medal bar. I suspect that is why the Queen wore her badge without the bow.

Yet, I have found at least one occasion when HM wore the badge with the large bow with day dress.
That was from the investiture into the Order of General Peter Cosgrove, who later became the Governor General.

2000. Peter Cosgrove as a Military Companion of the Order of Australia.


Later, Peter Cosgrove, as Governor General, was made a Knight of the Order of Australia when the system was briefly revived in 2014 by the then Prime Minister, Tony Abbott.

Peter Cosgrove wearing the breast badge and neck badge in 2015.


It is not usual (in my limited experience) to see females wearing the neck badge hanging on its ribbon. But, Quentin Bryce when Governor General, did so.