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Documenting 9/11

An Australian flag retrieved from the ruins of the World Trade Center in New York is a graphic reminder of a tragedy that claimed the lives of 2,977 people.

The flag was one of thousands of objects excavated from the site following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Intact but soiled, crumpled and with minor tears, the 120 by 178 centimetre flag was discovered in the basement of World Trade Center Three.

Top left section of an Australian flag with stains, tears and burns. The Union Jack is visible, along with the large seven-pointed star. The section bearing the Southern Cross is quite crumpled.
Australian flag recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center following the terrorism attack of 2001

The flag is believed to have been used for ceremonial purposes in the 22-storey Marriott Hotel which was destroyed by falling debris from the collapse of the Twin Towers.

New York Police Department Emergency Services Unit Detective Patrick McGee presented the flag to Australia's Consul General Ken Allen in a private ceremony in August 2004. It was then returned to Australia for conservation at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

20th anniversary in New York

The flag was loaned by the National Museum of Australia to the Australian Consulate-General in New York, to mark the 20th anniversary in September 2021.

A man in a suit is standing behind a desk with a faded Australian flag in a large wooden display case. Behind him is the Australian and American and a banner for the Australian Consulate-General New York.

Detective Patrick McGee with the flag on display at the Australian Consulate-General in New York, 2021

National Museum director Dr Mathew Trinca, 2021:

We are honoured to be the custodians of this poignant reminder of the dreadful day that changed the world. It seems truly fitting that the flag has been returned to New York to be the centrepiece of a ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of that tragic event.

National Historical Collection

The flag is part of the National Historical Collection and will be preserved as a reminder of the tragic events of September 2001.

Two Museum staff members moving an Australian flag, retrieved from the ruins of the World Trade Center, into a display case.

Flag conservation

The Museum also holds a collection of personal objects relating to the life and death of Yvonne Kennedy, who died at the Pentagon. Yvonne was one of 10 Australians among those who died in the terrorist attack, which marked the beginning of the 'war on terror'.

Australia joined the United States and its allies to contribute forces to the invasion of Afghanistan and later Iraq.

In our collection

Australian flag recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center, New York, after September 11, 2001This Australian flag was recovered from the basement of World Trade Center Three, which was destroyed in the terrorist attacks in New York on 11 September 2001.
Australia and September 11 collection
Yvonne E Kennedy collection
Craig Gibson and Dannielle Meredith collection
Defining Symbols of Australia
Museum blog
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