As Australia's oldest flag manufacturer, we understand a great deal about flags! Whether you're looking to brush up on your knowledge, or learn a bit more about the Australian flag meaning- this is the post for you! Lets explore the different Australian Flags and what they mean...
The Australian National Flag
The Australian National Flag is instantly recognisable and represents Australia's identity and history. The Australian flag meaning is based around the early discovery of Australia. The five stars seen on the right of the Australian National Flag are known as the Southern Cross. The Southern Cross was seen as a useful, radiant, tool for those exploring at night.
The Australian Flag also features the Union Jack in the top left corner, acknowledging the history of British settlement in Australia. Below the Union Jack is the Commonwealth Star which represents the six Australian States through the points on the star. The seventh point on the star was added in 1908 (the same year Harry West Flags was founded!) and the seventh point represents the territories in Australia. Sometimes known as the "Aussie Flag" the Australian National Flag is an Australian classic and is flown all over Australia. If our flags are good enough for the Sydney Harbour Bridge- we're sure they'll be good enough for you! Browse the Australian National Flag
Although the Australian Flag is iconic, it’s not the only official flag flown across Australia. There are several important flags that hold significance, including the Red Ensign flag, the Aboriginal flag, and the Torres Strait Islander flag.
The Red Ensign Flag
You may have seen a red Australian Flag flying throughout Australia, but what does the red Australian Flag mean? The red Australian Flag is named the Australian Red Ensign Flag and it's very similar to the Australian National Flag, with the exact same design just on a red background, instead of blue.
The history of the flag dates back to 1901, when the Commonwealth Government announced a competition to design a flag for Australia. Entrants were asked to send a design for two flags – one for official and naval purposes and the other for merchant ships. This resulted in both a Blue Ensign (now the Australian National Flag) and a Red Ensign. There was considerable confusion in the first half of the 20th century over the appropriate use of the Red Ensign as opposed to the Blue Ensign. This was clarified with the passage of the Flags Act 1953 which proclaimed the Blue Ensign as the Australian National Flag. The Australian Red Ensign then became the official flag to be flown at sea by Australian registered merchant ships. Show your Aussie pride on the water!
The Australian Aboriginal Flag
The Australian Aboriginal Flag is often seen flying alongside the Australian National Flag. The Australian Aboriginal Flag was designed by Harold Thomas in 1971 and adopted in 1995 and is a horizontal bi-colour flag of black and red with a yellow disc in the centre.
The symbolic meaning of the flag colours as stated by Harold Thomas is that the black represents the Aboriginal people of Australia, the yellow circle represents the sun, the giver of life and protector, and the red represents the red earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies and Aboriginal peoples' spiritual relation to the land. The Australian Aboriginal Flag was proclaimed on 14 July 1995. We offer both printed and fully sewn Aboriginal Flags, get yours here!
The Torres Strait Islander Flag
The Torres Strait Islander Flag is attributed to the late Bernard Namok of Thursday Island. His flag was the winning entry in a design competition run by the Island Coordinating Council (ICC), a Queensland statutory body representing the Community Councils in the Torres Strait.
The flag features a white Dhari (traditional headdress), with a five-pointed white star beneath it. The Dhari is a symbol of Torres Strait Islanders and is used in cultural ceremony and dance. The white five-pointed star symbolises peace, and the navigational importance of stars to the seafaring people of the Torres Strait. The deep green stripe represents the land, the black stripe is for the people, and the blue is the colour of our seas. Get your Torres Strait Islander Flag here!
There are many other Australian Flags, including state and territory flags, you can browse the full range on our website!
Feel free to reach out to a member of the team if you have any questions!
