List of Australian flags

This is a list of flags used in Australia:

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of Australia.

National

FlagDateUseDescription
1909–present National flag, naval jack and state ensign A Blue Ensign defaced with the seven-point Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half.
1903-1909 Version approved by King Edward VII As the post-1909 flag, except that the Commonwealth Star had six points. The seventh added in 1909 originally stood for the Territory of Papua and later for all territories.
1901-1903 Original 1901 Federal Flag Design Competition winner As the 1903 version, except that the four main Southern Cross stars had varying numbers of points (9, 8, 7, and 6) instead of a constant 7 each.
1971-present Aboriginal Flag A black and red flag with a yellow circle in the middle.
Link to file 1992-present Torres Strait Islander Flag A five-pointed star and traditional headdress in white, on a blue, green and black background.

Personal flags

Queen

FlagDateUseDescription
1962-present The Australian Personal Flag of Queen Elizabeth II

Governor-General

FlagDateUseDescription
1936-present Flag of the Governor-General of Australia A crowned lion standing on a crown on a blue field

Governors

FlagDateUseDescription
1981-present Flag of the Governor of New South Wales The State Flag with a crowned badge
1901-present[nb 1] Flag of the Governor of Queensland The Union Flag defaced with the state badge
1975-present Flag of the Governor of South Australia The State Flag with a crowned badge
1977-present Flag of the Governor of Tasmania The State Flag with a crowned badge
1984-present Flag of the Governor of Victoria The State Flag with a yellow field and crowned southern cross
1988-present Flag of the Governor of Western Australia The State Flag with a crowned badge
  1. ↑ The rendition of the crown has changed according to the monarchs' wishes. In c. 1901 it was changed to the Tudor crown, and in 1953 to the St Edwards crown.

Prime Minister

FlagDateUseDescription
?–1966 Car Flag of the Prime Minister This (unofficial, though used) variation includes the coat of arms of Australia on the national flag.[1][2]

States and mainland territories

FlagDateUseDescription
1993-present Flag of Australian Capital Territory One third blue with the Southern Cross, the other two thirds are yellow with the Coat of Arms of Canberra
1876-present Flag of New South Wales A St George's Cross with four gold stars and a lion in the fly of a British blue ensign
1978-present Flag of the Northern Territory One third black with the Southern Cross, the other two thirds are brown with Sturt's Desert Rose, the floral emblem of the Territory
1876-present[nb 1] Flag of Queensland A light blue Maltese cross with a crown on a white background in the fly of a British blue ensign
1904-present Flag of South Australia A piping shrike on a gold background in the fly of a British blue ensign
1875-present Flag of Tasmania A red lion on a white background in the fly of a British blue ensign
1877-present[nb 1] Flag of Victoria The Southern Cross surmounted by a crown in the fly of a British blue ensign
1953-present Flag of Western Australia A black swan on a gold background in the fly of a British blue ensign
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The rendition of the crown has changed according to the monarchs' wishes. In c. 1901 it was changed to the Tudor crown, and in 1953 to the St Edwards crown.

Civil ensigns

FlagDateUseDescription
1909–present Australian Red Ensign A British Red Ensign with the Commonwealth Star at the hoist, and the Southern Cross in the other half
1903–1909 Red Ensign approved by King Edward VII A Red Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half
1901–1903 Red version of winning design A Red Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half
1948–present Australian Civil Air Ensign Based on the British Civil Air Ensign, with the addition of the Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star
1935–1948 Australian Civil Air Ensign Based on the British Civil Air Ensign, with the addition of the Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star in yellow

Australian Defence Force

FlagDateUseDescription
Link to file 2000-present Australian Defence Force Ensign A tricolour of dark blue (navy); red (army) and light blue (airforce) with the Triservice badge

Royal Australian Navy

FlagDateUseDescription
1967–present Australian White Ensign Based on the British White Ensign, a version of the national flag with a white field and the Commonwealth Star and the Southern Cross in blue.
1911–1967 Royal Australian Navy Ensign St George's Ensign or White Ensign: white field defaced with a thin Cross of Saint George, Union Flag in the first quarter. It was replaced by the Australian White Ensign.
1920-present Flag of the Chief of Navy A fouled anchor on a red-blue background.
Link to file 2001–present Australian Navy Cadets Ensign A blue ensign with the Australian White Ensign in canton and the badge of the Australian Navy Cadets in the fly.
1972–2001 Naval Reserve Cadets Ensign A blue ensign with the Australian White Ensign in canton and the badge of the Naval Reserve Cadets in the fly. Replaced by the Australian Navy Cadets Ensign.
1956–1972 Sea Cadet Corps A blue ensign with the badge of the Sea Cadet Corps in the fly. Replaced by the Naval Reserve Cadets Ensign.

Royal Australian Air Force

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

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

FlagDateUseDescription
1988–present Australian Customs Flag Australian Blue Ensign defaced with "CUSTOMS"
1909–1988 Australian Customs Flag Australian Blue Ensign defaced with "HMC"
1904–1909 Australian Customs Flag Australian Blue Ensign defaced with "HMC"
1903–1904 Australian Customs Flag Australian Blue Ensign defaced with "HMC AUSTRALIA"
1901–1903 Australian Customs Flag Australian Blue Ensign defaced with "HMC AUSTRALIA"

Federal and state police

Flag Date Use Description
Link to file 1982–present Australian Federal Police A 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 1981–present New South Wales Police Force An azure-and-white horizontal bicolor with the badge of the New South Wales Police Force in the centre of the flag.
Link to file 2006–present Northern Territory Police A variant of the Northern Territory flag with the Northern Territory Police badge replacing the flower in the fly.
Link to file 2006–present Queensland Police Service 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 1993–present South Australia Police A British Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the South Australia Police within a white disk.
Link to file ??–present Tasmania Police An azure flag with the badge of the Tasmania Police in the centre of the flag.
Link to file ??–present Victoria Police A British Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Victoria Police.
Link to file 2005–present Western Australia Police A white flag with a stylised depiction of a swan and checkerboard in blue, with the Western Australia Police emblem added.

External territories

FlagDateUseDescription
1980-present Flag of Norfolk Island A green field with a white square containing a green Norfolk Island Pine.
2002-present Flag of Christmas Island The 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-present Flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands The 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.

Cities and areas

FlagDateUseDescription
1850-present Upper Murray River Flag 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-present Lower Murray River Flag Flown 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 darker waters in South Australia.
?? Flag of the City of Melbourne
1908 Flag of the City of Sydney
1947-present[3] Flag of the City of Brisbane
1949 Flag of the City of Perth Saint George's Cross overlaid with the City of Perth Coat of Arms in the centre.[4]
1982-present Armorial Flag of the City of Adelaide Blue background divided into four quadrants by a Saint George's Cross outlined in gold with overlain with the Arms of the City of Adelaide. Flag bordered on three sides by diagonal blue and gold stripes.[5]
1998-present Flag of Lord Howe Island, New South Wales Despite being an unofficial flag of a state-integrated island, it is used to represent the island.

Historical

FlagDateUseDescription
1788–1801 Union Flag The 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.
1806 Bowman Flag A white swallow-tail fly, with a crest featuring the Rose of England, the thistle of Scotland and the shamrock of Ireland supported by an emu and kangaroo. The design was an inspiration for Australia’s National Coat of Arms.
1823/24–1831 National Colonial Flag for Australia A British White Ensign, featuring four white stars on the red cross
1830s–1920s Australian Federation Flag A British White Ensign, featuring the cross in blue with five white stars
1849–1853 Australasian Anti-Transportation League Flag British Blue Ensign, with yellow Southern Cross and white border, to which branch names were added
1850s–1875 Van Diemen's Land Ensign A British White Ensign, featuring six blue bars
1854 Eureka Flag The battle flag of the Eureka Stockade featured the five stars of the constellation Crux Australis in white on a white cross and blue field
1918 Australian Honour Flag
1972 Australian Moon Flag The Australian flag flown on the final mission of the Apollo program, which took place from 6 - 19 December 1972.

Sporting flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1908–1912 Flag of the Australasian Olympic Team at the 1908 and 1912 Olympic Games A Blue Ensign defaced by a white circle containing the British Crown plus a shield containing the Southern Cross.
Link to file 1983–present Boxing Kangaroo flag flown by Australians at sporting events A golden kangaroo wearing boxing gloves on a green field.

Proposed alternative flags

References

  1. ↑ ABC Television show "Auction Room", 11 November 2012
  2. ↑ Pg 207. Flags of the World, Barraclough, E.M.C., ISBN 978-0-72-322797-7
  3. ↑ "The city standard, but do you recognise it?". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "History of the Council". City of Perth. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "History of Council". Adelaide City Council. Retrieved 22 January 2015.

See also