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The Mace

History of the Mace

In ancient times the Mace was a wooden weapon of war similar to a club. During the fourteenth century the Mace, by then made of precious metal and covered with jewels, had become the symbol of the King's authority. Since the seventeenth century the Mace has become an icon of a Parliament, in particular a symbol of the authority of the Speaker.

The Mace of the Legislative Assembly for the ACT

The Mace of the Legislative Assembly for the ACT was a gift from the Australian Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and was officially presented to the Speaker, Mr Wayne Berry MLA, at the 35th Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference held in Melbourne on 9 July 2004.

The Mace is 95cm long and weighs approximately 8.5kg and was designed and manufactured by the local company, Designcraft. The body of the Mace is divided into three sections, representing the ‘Y’ plan of Burley Griffin’s planned city. The spine is made of stainless steel and the locally sourced Yellow Box timber used on the Mace is not a traditional cabinet making timber but was selected to complement the joinery detail within the Legislative Assembly Chamber. The detailed carvings on the Mace of the Wahlenbergia gloriosa (Royal Bluebell), which is the floral emblem of the ACT, was undertaken by local craftsman Myles Gostelow.

The Assembly's Mace is a blend of traditional symbolism and contemporary lines and material representing the modern, forward looking feel of today's Legislative Assembly.

Ceremonial use of the Mace

'Members, the Speaker'. These words are announced by the Serjeant-at-Arms, who is custodian of the Mace, when entering the Chamber indicating the arrival of the Speaker. The Serjeant-at-Arms bears the Mace upon the right shoulder and places it at the end of the Table on its brackets. The Speaker then reads the prayer or reflection and the day's proceedings may begin. Traditionally, the Mace is placed with the larger end pointing towards the Government and remains in this position throughout the sitting. At the conclusion of the sitting the Serjeant-at-Arms, bearing the Mace, once again precedes the Speaker out of the Chamber.