Historical information

The City of St Kilda was created in 1890 and the phrase 'aura favente feror' is a motto that is believed to have been chosen by Benjamin Cowderoy, who was elected chairman, and later Mayor, of the newly established municipal district of St Kilda in 1857. He also created with the design of the crest.
To the right a yacht bobs off St Kilda beach under full sail. This is the 'Lady of St Kilda', owned by Sir Thomas and Lydia Acland. In late 1841 or early 1842, Superintendent Charles La Trobe named St Kilda after this yacht during a champagne picnic near St Kilda beach.
Near the shore a train and carriage can be seen traveling on the railway to St Kilda station. In 1857 this was the first public passenger rail line in Australia. Behind the train is Bachelors Hall on Alfred Square, one of St Kilda's first buildings.
To the far left is St Kilda's oldest church, Christ Church (1857), which is still standing today on the corner of Acland and Jackson Streets. The lush greenery of St Kilda hill and slopes show why the original name of the district was 'Green Knoll'.
The famous attractions of St Kilda as a maritime resort are symbolised in the foreground by Aphrodite, the Greek goddess. To the Romans she was Venus. Born from a cockle shell, Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty, sexual rapture and fertility. She was also the protector of sailors and seafarers.
The royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom reflects British heritage. The French motto 'Dieu Et Mon Droit' (God and my right) and 'Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense' (Evil to him who evil thinks) are associated with Britain and the Royal family since the reign of Henry V. Scotland is represented by a chained unicorn and the thistle underneath. Ireland is represented by the harp indicating music and poetry in the third quadrant of the shield.
The crest was removed from the St Kilda Town Hall in 1994 when the City of St Kilda was amalgamated with Port Melbourne and South Melbourne to create the City of Port Phillip.
In 2009, Deeksha Bhardwaj, a conservator and member of the St Kilda Historical Society, restored it. Over two months the crest was cleaned minutely by hand, damaged plaster was restored (except for the missing horn on the unicorn's head) and chipped areas repainted. It was displayed in the St Kilda library until 2026, when it was removed during refurbishment works.

Physical description

Plaster rendition of St Kilda City crest, painted