Sutherland Shire Council in Sydney’s south has voted unanimously to give its crest featuring Captain James Cook a more prominent role in council communications.
The decision followed a heated meeting over the balance between the historic Captain Cook crest and the council’s contemporary wave logo. Despite reports suggesting the meeting would decide whether Cook should be removed, councillors were instead considering how prominently the crest should be used.
The crest had become less visible across the council, including in email signatures, after a branding decision in July. Monday’s motion reversed that direction by allowing broader use of the emblem while retaining the wave as part of the council’s visual identity.
Council minutes said the approach would provide “broader and more prominent use of the crest while maintaining a clear and practical visual identity framework”, within existing budgets and staff resources.
The Captain Cook crest dates back to the council’s formation in 1906 and has served as its principal institutional symbol and the basis of its official seal.
Confusion over the two designs emerged after the wave logo was introduced in 2017 as part of an effort to refresh the council’s visual identity. The minutes said the wave subsequently became the prominent identifier across many council communications and other public-facing material.
The council’s 2026 Brand Strategy and Framework was intended to establish a clearer hierarchy, rather than remove the historic crest. Under the framework, the crest was retained for high-value civic, ceremonial and corporate communications, while the wave remained the primary operational and lifestyle identifier.
Monday’s resolution also replaces the term “logo” with “brand mark” when referring to the two visual elements, saying the terminology better reflects their purpose, significance and appropriate use.
