Prior to Federation on 1 January 1901, the official flag of the Australian Colonies was the flag of Great Britain the ‘Union Jack’ .
What was the original flag of Australia?
The Eureka Flag is often viewed as the first “Australian” flag as it was the first notable example of a design that had the Southern Cross while excluding the Union Flag. The Murray River Flag, popular since the 1850s, is still widely used by boats that traverse Australia’s main waterway.
What was the Australian flag before 1954?
However, for the next 50 years Australia’s official flag was the British flag , the Union Jack. This changed in 1954 when the Flags Act came into effect.
How many flags have Australia had?
Australia has three official flags: the Australian National Flag, the Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag. Each state of territory also has its own flag.
When did the Australian flag change from red to blue?
On the 3 rd Sep 1901 , following Federation, the Australian National Flag (Blue Ensign) became the official national flag of Australia, and has remained so ever since. At the same time, the Red Ensign became the flag of Merchant Naval Shipping, and has remained so ever since.
Why does Australia have two flags?
However, people were confused about the use of two Australian flags. The blue ensign was meant to be for official and naval purposes and the red ensign was meant to be used by the merchant fleet, but the general public began using the red ensign on land.
Did Australia change its flag?
Australia’s flag will never change , Malcolm Turnbull has said, dismissing a new design that drops the Union Jack. ... The Union Jack is dropped, replaced with the Commonwealth Star and an enlarged Southern Cross, against a dark navy background.
Why does Australian flag have 6 stars?
The Stars. The Commonwealth Star is the emblem of Australian Federation. Six points represent the states and the seventh all the federal territories which together constitute the nation, the Commonwealth of Australia . The constellation of the Southern Cross indicates our geographical location in the southern hemisphere ...
Is Australia still a British colony?
The six colonies federated in 1901 and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed as a Dominion of the British Empire . ... The final constitutional ties between the United Kingdom and Australia ended in 1986 with the passing of the Australia Act 1986.
Was Australia’s flag ever red?
With the Act, the blue version became the Australian national flag, and the red version used only for maritime use . Before 1953, it was technically illegal for non-Commonwealth agencies and individuals to even fly the blue ensign on land!
What does the yellow mean in the Aboriginal flag?
Form and symbolism
The Aboriginal flag is divided horizontally into halves. The top half is black and the lower half red. There is a yellow circle in the centre of the flag. ... Black – represents the Aboriginal people of Australia. Yellow circle – represents the Sun, the giver of life and protector .
What does a black Australian flag with blue stripe mean?
The Thin Blue Line is a pro-police symbol that’s “been hailed as a sign of police solidarity and criticised as a symbol of white supremacy.” Originally created in the US, the symbol usually consists of a black and white version of a national flag bisected by a blue line.
What is the Australian Red flag?
The Australian Red Ensign is an official flag of Australia and is proclaimed under the Flags Act 1953. The Australian Red Ensign is generally only flown at sea by Australian registered merchant ships or on land by organisations and individuals for ceremonial purposes such as Merchant Navy Day.
The Australian Red Ensign resulted from the Commonwealth Government’s 1901 Federal Flag Design Competition which required two entries: a flag for official Commonwealth Government use and another for the merchant navy.
What’s the difference between the Australian flag and the New Zealand flag?
The flag is (somewhat) different
BUT the Australian flag has two extra stars – a small one near the cross and a big one under the Union Jack. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s flag has just four stars but they are red with a white outline. Yes, the difference between the Aussie and NZ flag are small , but they are important.
Why are New Zealand and Australia flags the same?
Why do New Zealand and Australia use a similar pattern of stars on their flags? Both Australia and New Zealand chose the Southern Cross constellation for their flags. The stars on the Australian Flag are white and have more points than the New Zealand Flag to show their brightness in the sky.
