identify WWI badge - question mark on australia!!

[lotsamagsnbags]

so an elderly friend gave me a collection of badges most from WWI.  They included rising sun and rose day red cross charity pins, treasure chest etc, one given at school in 1919 and I have listed a few.  however this one has me stumped.  I'm assuming its also WWI related perhaps somewhere around 1919.  anyone know? thanks in advance

[joztamps]

Maybe something to do with the 1916 and 1917 conscription referenda.

[kopenhagen5]

Or was there a suggestion to rename Australia at that time ?

[lotsamagsnbags]

thanks both suggestions I had not considered but nothing comes up in a related image search

[imastawka]

Looks to me that the question mark has something to do with the 'empty' square to the left.

It appears to cover outback WA, but I've yet to figure out what it could mean.

Population?  Mining?

I also think the badge may be later than WW1 - maybe 50's?

[lotsamagsnbags]

thanks for those suggestions. Its possible, all the other items with the collection were WWI related, however it could have got in there by mistake.

[siddieswans]

Western Australia held a Secession Referendum in 1933. I also can see some emphasis in the image on the spread of population in Australia - very concentrated in the capitals, less in the regions, still less in most of the inland and that curious empty square in WA as you say. Interesting badge. A look at the back may help date it. Sometimes the printer's name is in very small writing around the rim.

[lotsamagsnbags]

[imastawka]

If that's the back, then it's older than I thought.

The front is in very good condition.

No idea of it's age now, sorry.

I'm still thinking something to do with population.