The motto was suggested to the Mayor of Melbourne by the first Judge of the district (Judge Willis), a well-known Latin scholar who thought it would be appropriate for the new Town Council. Alderman Condell and his fellow aldermen and councillors deemed it appropriate, for the three words ‘Vires acquirit eundo’ were adopted by the Council as the motto for the Town on January 2nd, 1843. Henry Condell was Melbourne's first Lord Mayor.
Curiously, the passage quoted refers to the Roman goddess, Rumour. The lines preceding the text used for the motto refer to Rumour as she raced through Africa and state that of all the pests Rumour is the swiftest. The actual motto translates as follows: “In her freedom of movement lies her power, and she gathers strength with her going.”
Our coat of arms is based on the seal, engraved by Thomas Ham, was formally adopted by the Melbourne Council on 9 February 1843. The seal device was used from that time until 1940 as the arms of the corporation.
The present coat of arms is below, and further information can be found here.
