Symbolism. The flag has three elements on a blue background: the Union Jack, the Commonwealth Star and the Southern Cross. … Below the Union Jack is a white Commonwealth, or Federation, star. It has seven points representing the unity of the six states and the territories of the Commonwealth of Australia.
What are the six stars on the Australian flag?
The Commonwealth Star, also known as the Federation Star, originally had six points, representing the six federating colonies. In 1908, a seventh point was added to symbolise the Territory of Papua, and any future territories.
Why is the Southern Cross in Australia’s flag?
The Southern Cross was used on flags, banners and coats of arms in Australia from early on in the colonial period. In these uses, the Cross represented a connection with the northern hemisphere, not a difference from it. … The Southern Cross represents Australia as the British society of the southern hemisphere.”
What does it mean when the Australian flag is upside down?
To fly a flag upside down is a signal of distress. The Australian National Flag should not, therefore, be displayed with the Union Jack down on any occasion except as a signal of distress.
How does the Australian flag not represent Australia?
It does not accurately connote Australia’s status as an independent nation. The Union Jack at the canton suggests Australia is a British colony or dependency. … The number of points of the stars have varied since 1901 and the present blue version was not adopted as the “national” flag until 1954.
Does New Zealand and Australia have the same flag?
The flag is (somewhat) different
BUT the Australian flag has two extra stars – a small one near the cross and a big one under the Union Jack. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s flag has just four stars but they are red with a white outline. Yes, the difference between the Aussie and NZ flag are small, but they are important.
Why should the Australian flag be changed?
National flags do change over time, usually reflecting a major change in the country’s constitutional arrangements or government. Advocates of change in Australia believe that another flag design would be more effective in representing Australia than the current flag.
What are the 3 Australian flags?
Australia has three official flags: the Australian National Flag, the Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag.
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The Australian National Flag
- The flag of Great Britain, known as the Union Jack, is in the top left corner. …
- The Commonwealth Star is under the Union Jack.
Why does the Australian flag have 6 stars?
The Stars. The Commonwealth Star is the emblem of Australian Federation. Six points represent the states and the seventh all the federal territories which together constitute the nation, the Commonwealth of Australia. The constellation of the Southern Cross indicates our geographical location in the southern hemisphere …
What is the red Aussie flag?
The Australian Red Ensign is an official flag of Australia and is proclaimed under the Flags Act 1953. The Australian Red Ensign is generally only flown at sea by Australian registered merchant ships or on land by organisations and individuals for ceremonial purposes such as Merchant Navy Day.
Can the Australian flag be flown at night?
Flags in any locality can be flown at half-mast when someone local dies, or on the day of their funeral. … The flag should never be flown at half-mast at night even if it is illuminated. When flying the Australian National Flag with other flags, all flags in the set should be flown at half-mast.
Can the Australian flag touch the ground?
The Australian National Flag should be raised first and lowered last, unless all other flags at the ceremony are raised and lowered simultaneously; … Do not allow the flag to fall or lie on the ground or be used as a cover, although it can be used to cover a coffin at a funeral.
What is the White Australian flag?
The Australian white ensign is an Australian National Flag with a white background. It is flown from the stern of naval vessels. The Australian National Flag is flown from the bow. The Royal Australian Air Force ensign was adopted in 1948.
Is Australia changing their flag?
A dark blue, forward moving, kangaroo silhouetted against a golden sky has replaced the Union Jack and Federation Star featured on the current Australian Flag. … The white stars of the Southern Cross are reversed out of a blue field, which is unchanged from the current flag.
What flag did the Anzacs fight under?
Most Australians fought under either the Australian Red Ensign or the Union Jack in World War II. All Australian Naval personnel fought under the British Naval Ensign in both world wars.
What was the Australian flag before 1954?
However, for the next 50 years Australia’s official flag was the British flag, the Union Jack. This changed in 1954 when the Flags Act came into effect.