Bird Emblem: Kookaburra
The Kookaburra (Dacelo gigas) is the bird emblem of New South Wales. This great brown kingfisher is sometimes called a 'laughing jackass' because of its distinctive territorial laughing call. Meat eaters, they hunt snakes, lizards, fish and insects and live at forest edges, in clearings.
Gemstone Emblem: Black Opal
The Black Opal was proclaimed the State gemstone of NSW in 2008. It is the most rare and valuable type of opal.
Floral Emblem: Waratah
The Waratah (Telopea speciosissima) is the floral emblem of New South Wales, a large (10-12cm across) and spectacular scarlet flower growing in the bush in clumps of tall stems. The Waratah(external link) is protected by law.
Fish Emblem: Blue Groper
The Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis) was proclaimed the State fish of New South Wales in 1998. A friendly but powerful coastal fish that often follows divers. It can be up to a metre long and weigh between 2 and 15kg, though some specimens may reach 40kg or more.
Animal Emblem: Platypus
The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), is the animal emblem of New South Wales. The platypus is a furry creature, about 30cm - 38cm long, it has webbed feet and a large duck-like bill which it uses to gather its food from the bottom of rivers.
Fossil Emblem: Mandageria fairfaxi
The 370 million year old fossil fish, Mandageria fairfaxi, is the NSW State Fossil Emblem. The fish was a large, air-breathing lobe-finned fish from the Canowindra Fish Bed in central NSW. The fossil is nicknamed Fred to honour Fred Fewings who recovered the fossil.
