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Sturt's
Desert Pea This plant is the floral emblem of South Australia. Specimens were first collected by the explorer William Dampier off the coast of Western Australia in 1699. Charles Sturt collected additional specimens during his expedition into the Australian interior in 1844-45. The plant is found in the more arid areas of South Australia and adjacent parts of Northern Territory and other mainland states, excepting Victoria. The plant has been given the scientific name of Swainsona formosa, also Willdampia formosa. It was formerly called Clianthus formosus. The newer names are derived from Dampier and from Isaac Swainson who grew the plant in his garden near London in the late 18th century.  In 1957 the flower and leaves were assigned for use on the Crest of the Coat of Arms of the Grand Lodge, shown attached to the top of the helmet at right. To read more about the Coat of Arms, please click on the shield. |
 The flower and leaves of Sturt's Desert Pea are also
used to decorate the Masonic aprons and other items of regalia worn by
various officers of this Grand Lodge, to symbolise the connection with
South Australia. The Masonic apron of a Grand Master of South Australia and Northern Territory is shown at right. This is of white lambskin, trimmed with garter blue, gold braid and fringes. As befits the leader of the Freemasons in South Australia and Northern Territory, the apron is richly embroidered with various symbols including the sun in splendour.  pomegranates, lotus
flowers, ears of wheat and Sturt's Desert Pea.
A detailed view of the embroidered flower and sprigs of leaves of the Sturt's Desert Pea is shown adjacent. |
  The use of Sturt's Desert Pea to decorate aprons of Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge was required under Rule 197 of the first edition of the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of South Australia, published in 1885. Aprons were to be "lined with garter-blue-edging three and a half inches deep, plain, or ornamented with gold leaves and flowers of eucalypti and sturt pea blossom ..." The apron (at right) of the first Grand Master, MW Bro Sir Samuel Way, shows Sturt's Desert Pea, on the front of the flap. |
Further reading online: Australian National Botanic Gardens web site entry - http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/sa.emblem.html The Floral Emblem of South Australia - http://www.premcab.sa.gov.au/emblems/sturtpe1.htm The [Aboriginal] Legend of the Sturt Desert Pea - http://www.2docstock.com/4-17-00/pea.html (above web sites accessed April 2005) (illustrations of the current Masonic Apron courtesy of VW Bro.Brian King) 04.05 www.freemasonrysaust.org.au/sturtpea.html |
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