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AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FLAG - HISTORY
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Before Federation the Australian colonies made use of the flags of Great
Britain - the Union Flag and the Red, White and Blue Ensigns. On 1 January 1901
the six colonies agreed to unite the name of "Commonwealth of Australia" and
our people became one nation.
Shortly before the opening of the first Parliament it was decided to hold a
worldwide competition to obtain designs for two Australian flags - one for
official and naval purposes and the other for the Merchant Navy service. The
competition was conducted in conjunction with a newspaper, The Review of
Reviews. On 3 September 1901 the designs were displayed in the Exhibition
Building, Melbourne. Over 30 000 designs were submitted and five were selected
as being of equal merit. The prize of £200 (£75 from the Commonwealth, £75 from
The Review of Reviews and £50 from the Havelock Tobacco Company) was divided
among five persons: Mrs. A. Dorrington or Perth, Mr. E.J. Nuttall of Melbourne,
Mr. Ivor Evans of Melbourne, Mr. Leslie Hawkins of Sydney and Mr. W. Stevens of
Auckland.
On the day the winners were announced by the then Prime Minister, Mr. E.
Barton, a large flag embodying the designs was flown on the Exhibition
Building, Melbourne. Photographs of the day show it as having a design quite
similar to that officially proclaimed later. Under the Union of the British
Blue Ensign was a large white star with six points representing the six States.
In the fly of the flag there were five white stars representing the Southern
Cross.
In February 1903 it was announced in the Commonwealth Gazette that King Edward
VII had approved a design for the Flag of Australia, and also one for the Flag
of the Merchant Navy. Both designs were shown in colour plates in the Gazette.
In 1908 the Government decided that a seven-pointed star, symbolical of the six
States and the Territories, should replace the large six-pointed star shown in
the originals design of the Flag - to represent the Territories and to conform
with the star in the Crest of the Coat of Arms granted that year.
For many years the Commonwealth Blue Ensign was regarded as an official flag,
and its use on land was restricted to government establishments. The flying of
the Ensign of land by an individuals and non-government bodies was discouraged,
although in 1941 the Prime Minister, Mr. R.G. Menzies, directed that there
should be no restriction on the flying of the flag.
In February 1947, the Prime Minister, Mr. J.B. Chifley, issued a press
statement encouraging the application of the directive given earlier by Mr.
Menzies that there should be no restriction on the flying of the Commonwealth
Blue Ensign on shore. Its greater use on public buildings, by schools and
private citizens was not only permitted but would be appreciated provided it
was flown in a manner appropriate to the use of a national emblem. Australian
merchant vessels were to continue to fly the Commonwealth Red Ensign.
Nevertheless, it had not been clearly established that any particular flag was
the "National Flag" until 1951 when King George VI approved a recommendation by
the Government that the Commonwealth Blue Ensign be adopted as the Australian
Flag.
The Flags Act 1953 (Act No. 1 of 1954) was passed by the Commonwealth
Parliament in November 1953 proclaiming definitively the Australian Blue Ensign
as the National Flag and the Australian Red Ensign as the proper colours for
merchant ships registered in Australian. Act No 58 of 1954 corrected a slight
error concerning the outer diameter of the large star in the design of the
Australian National Flag. The correct terms now for these flags are the
"Australian National Flag" and the "Australian Red Ensign". Act No. of 1981
removed reference to the Navigation Act 1912 in section 4(1) and moved the
description of the Australian Red Ensign from section 4(2) to a revised First
Schedule.
By a Proclamation under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953 the Governor-General
appointed the Australian White Ensign to be the ensign of the Royal Australian
Navy. This was announced in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No.18 of 1
March 1967.
By a Proclamation under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953 the Governor-General
appointed the Royal Australian Air Force Ensign to be the ensign of the Royal
Australian Air Force. This was announced in the Commonwealth of Australia
Gazette nos. 89 of 6 May 1982.
The Australian Government has a web site 'Flying the Flag" with information
about flying the Australian Flag.
http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/flying_flag.html
Also available at the Australian Government Flying the Flag website is an offer
to join an email subscription list which will inform you about important days
and the use of the flag on that day.
http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/flag/message_club.html
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updated 09 February 2006