List of Australian flags explained

This is a list of flags of different designs that have been used in Australia.

National flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1901–1903Original 1901 Federal Flag Design Competition winner[1] A Blue Ensign defaced with the six-point Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (each star had a varying number of points: 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5—with Alpha Crucis being larger than Beta and Gamma and with Delta being smaller than Beta and Gamma[2]). It was first flown in Melbourne on 3 September 1901.
That day is known as Flag Day.
1903–1908Historic national flag as approved by King Edward VIIFlag modified so that all stars of southern cross have seven points, except the smallest star with 5 points
1908–presentAustralian National Flag, naval jack and state ensignFlag modified with the addition of two points to the Commonwealth Star

Nationally proclaimed flags of Indigenous peoples

Sources:[3] [4]

FlagDateUseDescription
1971–presentAustralian Aboriginal Flag[5] A black and red flag with a yellow circle in the middle. The flag was designed in 1971 by Harold Thomas.
Link to File<-- Do NOT display a non-free flag image here. See talk page for more information -->1992–presentTorres Strait Islander FlagA five-pointed star and traditional headdress in white, on a blue, green and black background. It was designed in 1992 by Bernard Namok.

State and territory flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1876–presentFlag of New South Wales[6] [7] A St George's Cross with four gold stars and a lion in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1876–presentFlag of QueenslandA light blue Maltese cross with a crown on a white background in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1904–presentFlag of South Australia[8] A piping shrike on a gold background in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1876–presentFlag of TasmaniaA red lion on a white background in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1877–presentFlag of VictoriaThe Southern Cross surmounted by a crown in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1953–presentFlag of Western AustraliaA black swan on a gold background in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1993–presentFlag of the Australian Capital TerritoryOne third blue with the Southern Cross, the other two thirds are yellow with the coat of arms of Canberra.
1978–presentFlag of the Northern TerritoryOne third black with the Southern Cross, the other two thirds are Ochre with Sturt's Desert Rose, the floral emblem of the Territory.
2002–presentFlag of Christmas IslandThe blue and green diagonal panels represent the sea and the island's vegetation, a small map of the island is included in the centre. The main emblem is a golden bosun bird. The flag was selected from a competition held in 1986 and was approved in 2002.
2004–presentFlag of the Cocos (Keeling) IslandsThe flag is green, with a palm tree on a gold disc in the canton, a gold crescent for the Cocos Malay people in the centre of the flag and a gold southern cross in the fly. The flag was designed in 2003 becoming official in 2004.
1980–presentFlag of Norfolk IslandA green field with a white square containing a green Norfolk Island pine.

Historical state flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1876–1963Flag of Queensland[9]
1870–1876Flag of South Australia[10]
1876–1904Flag of South Australia
1870-1877Flag of Victoria[11]
1877Flag of Victoria[12]
1914–1949Flag of the Territory of New Guinea[13] British blue ensign with a white disk on the fly, filled with the Tudor Crown and the initialism "T.N.G."
1902–1949Flag of the Territory of PapuaBritish blue ensign with a white disk on the fly, filled with the Tudor Crown and the word "PAPUA".
1971–1975Flag of the Territory of Papua and New GuineaThe upper triangle is red with the soaring Raggiana Bird of Paradise and the lower triangle is black with the Southern Cross of four white larger five-pointed stars and the smaller star.

Royal and viceregal flags

Sovereign

FlagDateUseDescription
1962–2022Personal Australian Flag of Queen Elizabeth II[14] Consists of a banner of the coat of arms of Australia, defaced with a gold seven-pointed federation star with a blue disc containing the letter E below a crown, surrounded by a garland of golden roses.
2024-presentKing's Flag for Australia[15] [16] Consists of a banner of the coat of arms of Australia.

Governor-General

FlagDateUseDescription
1909–1936Flag of the governor-general of AustraliaA Union Flag defaced with a seven pointed star, crowned, surrounded by ears of corn and a gold circlet. The crown used is the Tudor Crown.
1936–1963Flag of the governor-general of Australia[17] A crowned lion standing on a crown on a blue field. The crown used is the Tudor Crown.
1963–2024Flag of the governor-general of AustraliaA crowned lion standing on a crown on a blue field. The crown used is St Edward's Crown.
2024-PresFlag of the governor-general of AustraliaA crowned lion standing on a crown on a blue field. The crown used is the Tudor Crown.

State governors

See main article: Flags of the governors of the Australian states.

FlagDateUseDescription
1981–presentFlag of the governor of New South WalesThe state flag with a crowned badge.
1876–presentFlag of the governor of QueenslandThe Union Flag defaced with the state badge.
1975–presentFlag of the governor of South AustraliaThe state flag with a crowned badge.
1977–presentFlag of the governor of TasmaniaThe state flag with a crowned badge.
1984–presentFlag of the governor of VictoriaThe state flag with a yellow field and crowned southern cross.
1988–presentFlag of the governor of Western AustraliaThe state flag with a crowned badge.

Local flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1982–presentArmorial Flag of the City of Adelaide[18] Blue background divided into four quarters by a Saint George's Cross outlined in gold overlain with the Arms of the City of Adelaide. Flag bordered on three sides by diagonal blue and gold stripes.[19]
Flag of the local government area of Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara[20] The logo of Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara on a red field.
1947–presentFlag of the City of Brisbane[21] Blue background (representing the Brisbane River) bordered by a golden checker pattern (representing the Sun and Brisbane's warm climate) with the flag divided into six quarters. The upper hoist quarter contains a golden caducei superimposed on wavy white lines, representing the Brisbane River and its ties to the city's commerce. The lower hoist quarter contains two Stafford knots and a white star arranged vertically (all represent the achievements in astronomy of Sir Thomas Brisbane, for whom the city is named). The remaining segments alternate between these two designs. The flag design is based on the shield on the coat of arms of Brisbane.[22] [23]
2009–presentFlag of the City of Darwin[24] According to council policy, Darwin maintains both the coat of arms flag and a logo flag.
Flag of the City of HobartThe flag of Hobart City Council, of Tasmania, Australia. Designed in 1951 by Hobart architect and alderman, I.G. Anderson and first flown in 1953.

The star is derived from the arms of Lord Hobart, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire (1760–1816), Secretary of State for War and the Colonies at the time of colonial settlement (1804), and after whom Hobart is named. The colour used on the arms Lord Hobart was, in fact, sable (black), rather than blue.

The red lion is from the Tasmanian flag – and its location at the top of the shield signifies Hobart's position as the Capital City.[25]

Flag of the City of MelbourneWhite background divided into four quarters by a Saint George's Cross outlined by a concise and overlain with St Edward's Crown. Quadrant features represent the main activities of the economy of the City of Melbourne in the mid 19th century and are, in a clockwise direction from top left, a fleece hanging from a red ring (wool), a black bull standing on a hillock (cattle), a three-mast ship in full sail (shipping), and a spouting whale in the sea (whaling). The flag design is identical to the shield on the coat of arms of Melbourne.[26]
1949–presentFlag of the City of PerthSaint George's Cross overlaid with the City of Perth coat of arms in the centre.[27]
1908–presentFlag of the City of SydneyThe flag is a horizontal triband of three colours – white, gold and blue. The top third features three designs. In the top left the arms belong to Thomas Townshend, Viscount Sydney, after whom the city was named. The English Naval Flag in the centre acknowledges the role Arthur Philip played in Sydney's foundation. The red cross is overlaid with a globe and two stars – the principal features of James Cook's Arms, which were granted as a posthumous honour for his service in mapping Australia. The arms in the top right belong to the first Lord Mayor of Sydney, Thomas Hughes. It was during his term of office that the title of Mayor became Lord Mayor, and the official coat of arms for the city was granted. The remaining field of the flag features a ship under full sail, an allusion to the prominence of Sydney as a maritime port.[28]
circa 1960–2008Flag of the City of Toowoomba[29] The flag of Toowoomba city is a violet coloured ensign which makes reference to the city's floral emblem of the day, the Toowoomba Violet (aka the sweet violet, Lat. 'Viola odorata').[30]

Notable is the city's coat of arms[31] in the centre of the ensign and the city's name on the left of the flag, lettered from top to bottom.[32]

2008–presentFlag of ToowoombaA new Toowoomba flag was created in 2007 and became the official flag of the Toowoomba Region on 15 March 2008 with the amalgamation of 8 councils; The councils were Clifton Shire, Crows Nest Shire, Cambooya Shire, Jondaryan Shire, Millmerran Shire, Pittsworth Shire, Rosalie Shire and Toowoomba City.[33]

The predominant colours are white and teal. The three white rings in the flag intersect to create eight spaces from their loops and exterior, symbolising the unity of the eight amalgamated former councils. The colour of teal also represents unity.[34]

Link to file<-- Do NOT display a non-free flag image here. See talk page for more information -->1965–presentFlag of Wagga Wagga[35] The Wagga Wagga City Flag is square. The upper quarter of the flag contains eight stalks of wheat positioned so as to form two capital letters W on a vert (green) field. The lower quarter of the upper half of the flag contains a wavy blue line on gold (yellow) representing the river winding through the wheat fields. The lower half of the flag contains the head of a ram positioned centrally on a vert (green) field.
1850–presentUpper Murray River Flag[36] Flown by vessels on the upper reaches of the Murray River, predominantly in Victoria. The blue bars are said to represent the four major rivers that form the Murray-Darling River system and their dark hue represents the darker colour of the Murray River's darker waters in Victoria and NSW.
1850–presentLower Murray River FlagFlown by vessels on the lower reaches of the Murray River, predominantly in South Australia. The blue bars are said to represent the four major rivers that form the Murray-Darling River system and their light hue represents the lighter colour of the Murray River's lighter waters in South Australia.
1998–presentFlag of Lord Howe Island, New South Wales[37] Unofficial

Civil ensigns

FlagDateUseDescription
1901–1903Red version of the 1901 Federal Flag Design Competition winnerA Red Ensign defaced with the six-point Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (each star had a varying number of points: 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5—with Alpha Crucis being larger than Beta and Gamma and with Delta being smaller than Beta and Gamma[38]).
1903–1909Red Ensign, first version approved by King Edward VIIFlag modified so that all stars of southern cross have seven points, except the smallest star with 5 points
1909–presentAustralian Red EnsignFlag modified with the addition of two points to the Commonwealth Star
1935–1948Australian Civil Air Ensign[39] Based on the British Civil Air Ensign, with the addition of the Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star in yellow.
1948–presentAustralian Civil Air EnsignStars altered to white to improve visibility

Australian Defence Force

FlagDateUseDescription
2000–presentAustralian Defence Force EnsignA tricolour of dark blue (navy); red (army) and light blue (airforce) with the triservice badge.
2000–presentPersonal flag of the Chief of the Defence Force[40] A horizontal tricolour of dark blue (navy); red (army) and light blue (airforce) with the triservice badge and four gold stars.
2000–presentPersonal flag of the Vice Chief of the Defence ForceA tricolour of dark blue (navy); red (army) and light blue (airforce) with the triservice badge and three gold stars.

Royal Australian Navy

FlagDateUseDescription
circa 1910–1967Royal Australian Navy Ensign[41] British White Ensign
1967–presentAustralian White EnsignA version of the national flag with a white field defaced with a blue Commonwealth Star in the lower canton quarter and a blue Southern Cross in the fly.
1920–1976, 1981– presentPersonal flag of the Chief of Navy[42] A fouled anchor on a red-blue background. Derived from the flag of the British Admiralty.
1983–PresentKing's Colour for the Royal Australian Navy[43]

Royal Australian Air Force

FlagDateUseDescription
1921–1948Royal Australian Air Force EnsignBritish Royal Air Force Ensign
1948–1982Royal Australian Air Force Ensign[44] The national flag with a light blue field, the Southern Cross tilted and the RAAF roundel placed in the lower fly.
1982–presentRoyal Australian Air Force Ensign[45] The national flag with a light blue field, the Southern Cross tilted and the RAAF roundel (Kangaroo) placed in the lower fly.

Federal and state police

FlagDateUseDescription
Link to file<-- Do NOT display a non-free flag image here. See talk page for more information -->1982–presentFlag of the Australian Federal PoliceA black-white-black vertical tricolor, with the badge of the Australian Federal Police in the centre of the white stripe. A black-and-white checkerboard borders the flag.
Link to file<-- Do NOT display a non-free flag image here. See talk page for more information -->2006–presentFlag of the Queensland Police Service[46] A light blue-and-dark blue horizontal bicolor with the badge of the Queensland Police Service in the centre of the flag.
Link to file<-- Do NOT display a non-free flag image here. See talk page for more information -->2005–presentFlag of the Western Australia Police[47] A white flag with a stylised depiction of a swan and chequerboard in blue, with the Western Australia Police emblem added. Replaced previous flag in use from 1970–2000.

Ethnic groups flags

FlagDateUseDescription
2021–presentFlag of Taungurung[49] A rectangle diagonally divided by a yellow wavy line. (Heraldic) The right side is ocher with the 7 stars arranged into the constellation of the Pleiades, the left side is black.
1998–presentFlag of South Sea Islanders[50] [51] Designed in 1994 and formally adopted by the Australian South Sea Islanders United Council in 1998.[52]

Other historical flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1788–1801Union FlagThe Union Flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Raised by Captain Arthur Phillip RN on 26 January 1788 at Sydney Cove upon the landing of the First Fleet.
1801– presentUnion FlagThe Union Flag of the United Kingdom and the British Empire. Given priority over the Australian National Flag until the passage of the Flags Act 1953.
1806Bowman flag[53] A white swallow-tail fly, with a crest featuring the Rose of England, the thistle of Scotland and the shamrock of Northern Ireland supported by an emu and kangaroo. The design was an inspiration for Australia's national coat of arms.
1823/24–1831National Colonial Flag for Australia[54] A British White Ensign, featuring four white stars on the red cross

1831–1903 (de facto Flag of Australia); 1903–1920s (still commonly used) Australian Federation Flag/New South Wales EnsignA British White Ensign, featuring the Cross in Azure with five Argent Stars often varying between 5–8 Points. It was the de facto flag of Australia from 1 January 1901 to 3 September 1901. It was widely used in New South Wales as a local shipping ensign until 1883 when the Admiralty banned its continued use at sea. The Australian government received approval to fly the Blue Ensign in 1903—but the Australian Federation Flag was still commonly unofficially used by members of the populace as late as the 1920s.
1849–1853Australian Anti-Transportation League FlagBritish Blue Ensign, with yellow Southern Cross and white border, to which branch names were added

1854Eureka FlagThe battle flag of the Eureka Stockade featured the five stars of the constellation Crux Australis in white on a white cross and blue field
Post 1910–British Empire flagAn unofficial flag of the British Empire featuring its constituent dominions and India. The Australian coat of arms are featured in the bottom right. It was flown by civilians as a display of patriotism on special occasions such as Empire Day. The flag was flown at the official unveiling of the Dangarsleigh War Memorial in 1921, and again at the centennial in 2021.[55]
1950s–1966Car flag of the prime minister of AustraliaThe Australian national flag defaced with the coat of arms of Australia placed between the Commonwealth Star and the Southern Cross. Used by Robert Menzies in the 1950s and 1960s.[56] [57]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . Australian flags . 2022 . . 978-0642471345 . 3rd . How the Australian National flag was chosen . https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/australian-flags-booklet/part-4-history-australian-national-flag/how-australian-national-flag-was-chosen.
  2. Web site: Construction Details of the Australian Flag . Thomson . Jeff . 10 November 2015 . FOTW Flags Of The World website . Jon Radel . 21 November 2023 . "The 1901 Southern Cross star-points ranged from nine (Alpha) to five (Epsilon) and inner diameter of each was 4/9 of their outer diameters. Beta, Gamma and Epsilon were the same outer diameter as today, Alpha was 1/6 and Delta 1/10 of the fly width. In 1903 Alpha, Beta and Delta were altered to the same design as the Gamma Star (1/7 fly width, seven points) thus making the Southern Cross the same as on the current flag.".
  3. Web site: PMC. Flags Act 1953. 2020-08-27. www.legislation.gov.au. en.
  4. Web site: Cabinet. Prime Minister and. 2016-06-27. Australian flags. 2020-08-27. www.pmc.gov.au. en.
  5. Book: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . Australian flags . 2022 . . 978-0642471345 . 3rd . Flags of Australia's Indigenous Peoples . https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/australian-flags-booklet/part-3-other-official-flags-australia/flags-australias-indigenous-peoples.
  6. Book: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . Australian flags . 2022 . . 978-0642471345 . 3rd . State and territory flags . https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/australian-flags-booklet/part-3-other-official-flags-australia/state-and-territory-flags.
  7. Web site: 11 September 2023 . State flag . . en-AU.
  8. Web site: State symbols . 2024-09-10 . Department of Premier and Cabinet . Tasmanian Government.
  9. Web site: 5 July 2017 . Queensland flag . . en.
  10. Web site: Flag of South Australia . 2024-09-10 . Britannica . en.
  11. Web site: 2024-08-26 . About the Victorian flag . vic.gov.au . . en-AU.
  12. 6 April 1877 . Flag for Government Vessels . Victorian Government Gazette . 629 . 32.
  13. Web site: Flags, Symbols & Currency of Papua New Guinea . 2024-09-09 . WorldAtlas . 24 February 2021 . en-US.
  14. Book: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . Australian flags . 2022 . . 978-0642471345 . 3rd . Royal and Vice-Regal flags . https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/australian-flags-booklet/part-3-other-official-flags-australia/royal-and-vice-regal-flags.
  15. Web site: Royal and Vice-Regal flags . 14 July 2022 . 18 October 2024 . Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
  16. Web site:
  17. 16 July 1936 . Notice . . 1297 . 56.
  18. Web site: City of Adelaide Arms and Flag . https://web.archive.org/web/20170330104457/https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/your-council/role-of-council/175-years-of-council/history-of-council/ . 2017-03-30 . City of Adelaide.
  19. Web site: History of Council . 22 January 2015 . Adelaide City Council.
  20. Web site: about-us . 2024-09-09 . Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara.
  21. Web site: Feeney . Katherine . 4 April 2012 . The city standard, but do you recognise it? . Brisbane Times .
  22. Web site: Symbols used by Council . 4 November 2015 . Brisbane City Council.
  23. Web site: Jonathan Dixon . Ian MacDonald . City of Brisbane (Queensland, Australia) . 4 November 2015.
  24. Web site: Council's Symbols . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090525150201/http://www.darcity.nt.gov.au/documents/CouncilsSymbols.pdf . 25 May 2009 . 5 December 2016.
  25. Web site: Hobart Coat of Arms – City of Hobart, Tasmania Australia . 20 September 2018.
  26. Web site: Melbourne Day - Melbourne Day . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140125131036/http://melbourneday.com.au/melbourneday.html . 25 January 2014 . 27 May 2014.
  27. Web site: History of the Council . 19 December 2013 . City of Perth.
  28. Web site: Sydney's flag and flower . 26 June 2015 . City of Sydney.
  29. Web site: Toowoomba Flags . 2024-09-09 . www.toowoomba.org.
  30. Web site: 8 September 2011 . Arrowhead Voilet . 7 January 2019 . Toowoomba Plants: Natives of the Region suitable for Gardens.
  31. Web site: Toowoomba . 7 January 2019 . Heraldy of the World.
  32. Web site: Toowoomba Flags . 1 January 2019 . toowoomba.org.
  33. Web site: Toowoomba Region Amalgamation . 1 January 2019 . Toowoomba Regional Council.
  34. Web site: Toowoomba Flags . 1 January 2019 . toowoomba.org.
  35. Web site: Wagga Wagga City Flag . 3 October 2016.
  36. Web site: Murray River Flags - Lower and Upper Murray River . 2024-09-09 . Discover Murray.
  37. Web site: Lord Howe Island 1993 . 2024-09-09 . Australiana Flags . en-GB.
  38. Web site: Construction Details of the Australian Flag . Thomson . Jeff . 10 November 2015 . FOTW Flags Of The World website . Jon Radel . 21 November 2023 . "The 1901 Southern Cross star-points ranged from nine (Alpha) to five (Epsilon) and inner diameter of each was 4/9 of their outer diameters. Beta, Gamma and Epsilon were the same outer diameter as today, Alpha was 1/6 and Delta 1/10 of the fly width. In 1903 Alpha, Beta and Delta were altered to the same design as the Gamma Star (1/7 fly width, seven points) thus making the Southern Cross the same as on the current flag.".
  39. Book: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . Australian flags . 2022 . . 978-0642471345 . 3rd . Australian ensigns . https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/australian-flags-booklet/part-3-other-official-flags-australia/australian-ensigns.
  40. Web site: 2024-07-10 . CDF Change of Command . Defence . Australian Government.
  41. Web site: Australian White Ensign . 2024-09-09 . Royal Australian Navy Website.
  42. Web site: Chief of Navy's Personal Distinguishing Flag . 2024-09-09 . Royal Australian Navy Website . en.
  43. Web site: Davidson . Bill . The Sovereign's Colours . 2024-09-09 . Royal Australian Navy Website . en.
  44. Web site: Air Force Ensign . 2024-09-09 . Royal Australian Air Force.
  45. Web site: Air Force Ensign . 2024-09-09 . Royal Australian Air Force.
  46. Web site: QPS Media . 2017-07-05 . Flags raised outside Police Headquarters for NAIDOC celebrations . myPolice Queensland Police News . en-AU.
  47. Web site: 2024-01-03 . WA Police Force Logo, Flag and Banner . . en.
  48. News: Millar . Lisa . 2010-02-08 . Boxing kangaroo here to stay . . en-AU.
  49. Web site: 14 May 2021 . Taungurung Sovereign Flag - Taungurung Land & Waters Council .
  50. Web site: Australian South Sea Islanders flag - ASSI .
  51. News: 11 May 2019 . Emojis are everywhere, but they can be a painful reminder of exclusion for some . ABC News.
  52. Web site: 2021-08-24 . Australian South Sea Islander flag . Australian Museum . en.
  53. Web site: The Bowman Flag . 2024-09-11 . State Library of New South Wales. 8 December 2015 .
  54. Book: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . Australian flags . 2022 . . 978-0642471345 . 3rd . Early flags . https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/australian-flags-booklet/part-4-history-australian-national-flag/early-flags.
  55. News: Ingall . Jennifer . 4 June 2021 . Why the Dangarsleigh war memorial flies the Empire flag and what it means to the community . ABC News . 13 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230813215116/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-05/dangarsleigh-memorial-celebrates-century-flying-empire-flag/100180732 . 13 August 2023.
  56. ABC Television show "Auction Room", 11 November 2012
  57. Pg 207. Flags of the World, Barraclough, E.M.C.,