Flags | National Museum of Australia

Australia’s national flags – the blue ensign, the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag – are important symbols. They represent connections, pride and much more. All three are usually flown together, symbolising Australia’s shared histories.

Australian flag defined

The history of official flags, including the Flags Act, which came into effect in 1954.

Cathy Freeman

The athletic champion carried the Australian and Aboriginal flags at international sporting events.

New flag for an independent nation

For a long time after colonisation, Australia’s national flag was the Union Jack, a legacy of Australia’s enduring relationship with Britain.

Postcard titled — 'The Australian flag from Sydney’ postcard, 1905–15

After Federation in 1901, a competition was held to design shipping ensigns for the new nation. The winning design featured the Union Jack, the Southern Cross and a six-pointed star representing the six states.

In 1908, when Australia acquired Papua as an external territory, a seventh point was added to the Federation Star to represent Papua and all subsequent territories.

The blue ensign became the country’s official flag in 1954.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags

The Aboriginal flag was designed by Luritja man Harold Thomas and first flown in 1971. It represents Aboriginal people (black), the earth (red) and the sun (yellow).

The Torres Strait Islander flag was created by Bernard Namok from Thursday Island in 1992. Its colours denote land (green), sea (blue), people (black) and peace (white). The flag features a dhari (headdress) and a five pointed star, representing the five major island groups.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags both became official Australian flags in 1995.

Cathy Freeman on the race track draped in the Australian and Aboriginal flags. - click to view larger image — Cathy Freeman with the Australian and Aboriginal flags at the Sydney Olympics, 2000

Political cartoon featuring an angry racist crowd wearing and holding up Australian flags. Two women walk past, one saying “MAKES ME PROUD TO BE UNAUSTRALIAN”. - click to view larger image — 'Proud to Be Un-Australian' by Fiona Katauskas, 2005

Nine people stand with arms crossed and their heads wrapped in Australian flags. - click to view larger image — A comment on ignorant, blind 'patriotism', 2005

A huge crowd of people on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with the Aboriginal flag being carried alongside the Australian flag. - click to view larger image — Sydney Harbour Bridge during the Walk for Reconciliation, 2000

A coloured picture featuring a young woman with an Australian flag in the background. The woman wears working attire and has her left fist clenched. The text reads 'Change over to a VICTORY JOB. APPLY TO YOUR NEAREST NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICE'. - click to view larger image — Victory job poster, 1943

A black and white photograph of Australian soldiers in Saigon, Vietnam. They are standing at attention around a metal trunk which has an Australian flag draped over its top. - click to view larger image — Saigon, Vietnam photograph, 1965

A colour photograph of a pair of blue rubber thongs which feature part of the Australian flag on the upper sole. A bar code tag attached to the thongs reads 'SLIPPER. MADE IN CHINA'. - click to view larger image — Chinese-made Australian flag thongs, 2008

A coloured picture featuring a woman in the foreground and an Australian flag in the background. The woman has her arms outstretched to the front. The text reads 'WOMEN! HELP AUSTRALIA'S SONS WIN THE WAR. BUY WAR LOAN BONDS'. - click to view larger image — War loans bond poster, about 1918

A coloured picture featuring a large ship in a circular-wreathed frame. An image of the Australian coat of arms with an Australian flag and Union Jack on either side is at the base of the frame. The text reads 'COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. UNMASKING THE PEACE LOAN. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED HERE'. - click to view larger image — Peace loan poster, 1914–18

Poster with an image of the Australian flag against a blue cloudy sky background. The text reads: 'When Republicans see this ... They think of England. We think of Australia. Join the NO REPUBLIC Campaign Team today. Freecall 1800 622 229. NO REPUBLIC'. - click to view larger image — Political poster, 1999

White mug with gold rim showing a kangaroo in a garland of leaves. 'Australia A Nation' is printed at the top, between the Union Jack and Australian flags which hang at either side of the illustration. 'May 1927, To commemorate the opening of the federal parliament house, Canberra' is printed at the bottom of the cup. - click to view larger image — Souvenir mug from the opening of Federal Parliament in Canberra, 1927

A colour photograph of the Australian flag hanging above a three-seater lounge chair. Marble-look panels and ornate columns can be seen either side of the flag. A small printed sign'Australia House, Baghdad', sits above the flag. - click to view larger image — Australian flag in Baghdad, about 2003

A woman dressed in a sleeveless fitted evening gown, which trails to the floor, wears a headdress of stars. An Australian flag is attached to her left arm, which is extended in the direction of a young man. He wears a soldier's uniform and has his right arm raised in a salute. - click to view larger image — Dramatic society patriotic tableau, 1930–40

A black and white photograph of an Australian fighter squadron gathered around a raised Australian flag. The men are atop a mound and looking off the left of the photo. - click to view larger image — Australian air force crew, 1939–45

Colour photograph of two men holding the Australian flag over a fire while spectators look on. The man on the left has his right arm raised with closed fist. - click to view larger image — Flag burning on 'Invasion Day', 2006

A colour photograph of two young blonde-haired girls walking along the Perth foreshore on Australia Day in 2007. The girls are wearing sunglasses, thongs, sleeveless tops, and have Australian flags draped around their hips. Australian flag tattoos are visible on their torsos and one wears an Australian flag drink cooler on her wrist. - click to view larger image — Australia Day flag skirts, 2007

A black and white photograph showing five men standing behind a homemade Australian flag. The men are shirtless. - click to view larger image — Flag made by Australian ex-POWs from Saigon, 1940s

A dark green flag with a caricature of a yellow kangaroo wearing red boxing gloves. - click to view larger image — Boxing kangaroo flag

A mural in three panels, made up of hundreds of postage stamps, depicting a flag-raising ceremony by English military men. Aboriginal men stand watching, to the left of the mural. Two of the soldiers hold raised glasses to the Union Jack. A sailing ship is moored off the coast and green hills appear in the background. - click to view larger image — Sydney Cove postage stamp mural, 1980s

A coloured photograph of a plate which with the Australian coat of arms, state heraldry and floral emblems around its border. At the centre of the plate there are portraits of King George III and Queen Elizabeth II, surrounded by Australian flowers, the Union Jack and Australian flag. Some of the words from the national anthem are printed around the plate: 'Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free, we've golden soil and wealth for toil, our home is girt by sea, our land abounds in nature's gifts of beauty rich and rare ...' - click to view larger image — 'Australians all let us rejoice' commemorative plate, about 1988

A black and white group photograph of a group of students and a teacher, in three rows, sitting in front of an Australian flag, strung to verandah posts and hanging upside down. - click to view larger image — Hebel State School, 1920

Postcard with an image of a koala climbing a flag pole which has the Australian flag at the top. There is a sprig of holly and a spray of wattle at the base of the flag pole. Text across the bottom reads 'Christmas greetings from the Australian War Contingent Association., London 1916.' - click to view larger image — 'Christmas greetings' postcard, 1916

An invitation from The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP to Wendy Hermeston to attend a morning tea on Wednesday 13 February 2008 on the occasion of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. The card features images of the Australian coat of arms at the top and the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at the bottom. - click to view larger image — Invitation to attend the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, 2008

Flag composed of a central blue band, with a white headdress motif and five pointed star, and bordered by green bands top and bottom. - click to view larger image — Torres Strait Islander flag

A poster of a young woman, dressed in a cream-coloured off-the-shoulder dress, holding the Australian flag. A group of soldiers march past in the the background to her left. The text reads 'MAKE YOUR MONEY FIGHT. Buy WAR LOAN BONDS'. - click to view larger image — War bonds poster, about 1916

A poster showing a soldier riding a horse. The soldier holds a flag in his right hand and a drawn sword in his left. The text reads 'COME ON BOYS. FOLLOW THE FLAG!' - click to view larger image — Recruiting poster, about 1916

A colour photograph of a ceremony at the Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli. The Memorial is in the background and an Australian flag at half mast flies in the foreground. - click to view larger image — Lone Pine Memorial, 2007

A colour photograph of a large crowd. Many people are wearing green and gold beanies on their head and several have an Australian flag draped around their shoulders. - click to view larger image — Anzac Day crowd, Gallipoli, 2007

A royal blue flag with Union Jack top left, above a white seven-pointed star. The Southern Cross constellation is formed by five white stars to the right. - click to view larger image — Australian flag

Pre-federation Australian flag from the Klondike goldfieldsA double sided, hand-painted flag depicting on both sides a kangaroo and an emu either side of a shield, set against a blue background. The shield is broken into four sections showing a sheep, a sailing ship, a sheaf of wheat and a pick and shovel. The stars of the Southern Cross separate the quadrants and a rising sun appears a...

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