Flag of Australia
The national flag of Australia is a defaced version of the British ensign. It is navy-blue in the background. The Union Flag is placed at the upper-left corner. A constellation of one five-pointed & five big seven-pointed stars, which are recognized as the Commonwealth Stars and represent the Southern Cross constellation, are situated in the remaining area.
The drawing of the flag was a result of multiple entries in a worldwide design competition help after the Federation. The Australian National Flag was finally approved in 1954 after a series of modifications and transformations.
Flag Composition
The Australian flag has three prominent symbols:
- Union Flag: The Union Flag symbolizes Australia’s history as a British colony and the basis for the principles of the Australian Federation.
- Commonwealth Star: The points on the star represent the six Australian states and territories.
- Southern Cross: This constellation, which is quite distinctive in the Southern Hemisphere, has been a symbol of Australia since the early years of British settlement.
Specifications
The Flags Act gave the following specifications for the Australian national flag:
- The Union Flag should occupy the upper hoist corner;
- A large white star must occupy the lower quarter next to the hoist, and directly points to St. George’s cross in the Union Jack;
- Five white stars in the right half of the flag, farther from the hoist.
The stars’ locations are specified as follows:
- Commonwealth Star: 7-pointed star - centered in the lower hoist.
- Alpha Crucis: 7-pointed star - straight below center fly, 1/6 from bottom edge.
- Beta Crucis: 7-pointed star - ¼ of the way up left, and 1/16 up from the center fly.
- Gamma Crucis: 7-pointed star - straight above center fly, 1/6down from top edge.
- Delta Crucis: 7-pointed star - 2/9 of the way right, 31/240 up from the center fly.
- Epsilon Crucis: 5-pointed star - 1/10 of the way right, 1/24 down from the center fly.
The following are specified diameter of each star:
- Commonwealth Star: outer diameter should be 3/10 of the flag’s width.
- Southern Cross 7-pointed stars: outer diameter should be 1/7 of the flag’s width.
- Epsilon Crucis: outer diameter should be 1/12 of the flag’s width.
- Each star’s inner diameter should be 4/9 of the outer diameter.
Colors
Scheme |
Blue |
Red |
White |
Pantone |
280 C |
185 C |
Safe |
RGB |
0-0-139 (#00008B) |
255-0-0 (#FF0000) |
255-255-255 (#FFFFFF) |
CMYK |
100%-80%-0%-0% |
0%-100%-100%-0% |
0%-0%-0%-0% |
History
1900 |
Design competition held by the “Evening Herald” wherein entries were required to contain the Union flag and the Southern Cross. |
October 1900 |
A broader competition was launched by the “Review”. |
April 29, 1901 |
Edmund Barton, the first Australian Prime Minister, announced the flag design competition launched by the “Commonwealth of Australia Gazette”. |
September 3, 1901 |
Announcement of the winning design; first raising of the Australian blue flag at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. |
February 8, 1902 |
The Prime Minister requested the Governor General to send the “Federation Flag” design to London to gain imperial approval. |
August 21 to September 3, 1902 |
King’s approval on the design was given. |
February 20, 1903 |
Proclamation of King Edward VII’s approval on the design of the flag of Australia, and the warrant for Australian registered ships to fly the red ensign. |
June 2, 1904 |
Resolution was passed by the Federal Parliament to fly the flag in public places, giving the flag equal status as the Union Jack in Britain. |
June 1, 1908 |
Issuance of Australian Army Military Order (No 58/08) directing military establishments of the country to fly the Australian ensign in place of the Union Jack. |
December 19, 1908 |
Addition of a 7 th point in the Commonwealth Star to represent the territories. |
April 14, 1954 |
Commonwealth Government “Flags Act 1953” confirms the status of the flag by legislation and grants the title as the Australian national flag. |
