When did the Australian flag change?

What is now the Australian national flag was created soon after Federation in a competition in which nearly 33,000 people took part. 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.

second, Does Australia have two flags?

Australia has three official flags: the Australian National Flag, the Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag. Each state of territory also has its own flag.

subsequently, How is the Australian flag used?

The flag must be flown in all government buildings and displayed in polling stations when there is a national election or referendum. Private pleasure craft can fly either the Red Ensign or the Australian National Flag.

then Why is the Australian flag similar to the New Zealand flag? Why do New Zealand and Australia use a similar pattern of stars on their flags? Both Australia and New Zealand chose the Southern Cross constellation for their flags. … The colours of the stars on both flags were chosen to complement the colours of the Union Jack shown in the top left-hand corner of both flags.

Did Australians fight under the Australian flag?

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. Relatively few have fought in declared wars under the Australian Blue Ensign as we now know it.

What is the true Australian flag?

The flag of Australia is based on the British Blue Ensign—a blue field with the Union Jack in the upper hoist quarter—augmented with a large white seven-pointed star (the Commonwealth Star) and a representation of the Southern Cross constellation, made up of five white stars (one small five-pointed star and four, …

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 there green on the Australian flag?

Green evokes the forests, eucalyptus trees and pastures of the Australian landscape. Green and gold are also the colours of Australia’s national floral emblem – the golden wattle.

Is it illegal to wear the Australian flag?

There are currently no laws that prohibit the wearing of the Australian flag for style or patriotic purposes. Under the 1953 Flags Act, the Australian National Flag may be flown on every day of the year, provided it is “treated with [the] respect and dignity it deserves as the nation’s most important national symbol.”

Can the Australian flag touch the ground?

The Australian National Flag should fly on the left of a person facing the flags, when it is flown with one other national flag; Do not fly two flags from the same flagpole; … 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.

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 …

When did the Australian flag change from red to blue?

On the 3^rd Sep 1901, following Federation, the Australian National Flag (Blue Ensign) became the official national flag of Australia, and has remained so ever since. At the same time, the Red Ensign became the flag of Merchant Naval Shipping, and has remained so ever since.

What is the new Australian 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 leading edge of the kangaroo divides the flag into two distinct areas.

Do Australia and New Zealand 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.

What do the 5 stars represent on the Australian flag?

The five white stars of the fly of the flag represent the Southern Cross. The Southern Cross (or Crux) is the brightest constellation visible in the Southern Hemisphere and has been used to represent Australia and New Zealand since the early days of British settlement.

What Colour was the original Australian flag?

History of the Australian 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.

Why are there 6 stars on the Australian flag?

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 …

Why does Australia have three flags?

The points of the star represent the five major island groups in the Torres Strait and white symbolises peace. … This protocol focuses on flying the Australian National flag, Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait Islander flag together.

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.

What is the black Australian flag?

The symbolic meaning of the flag colours (as stated by Harold Thomas) is: Black – represents the Aboriginal people of Australia. Yellow circle – represents the Sun, the giver of life and protector. Red – represents the red earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies and Aboriginal peoples’ spiritual relation to the land.

What happens if you burn Australian flag?

A person who desecrates the national flag or national emblem by publicly and wilfully burning, mutilating, scrawling on, defiling or trampling on it commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 5 and to imprisonment for 3 years.

Is it illegal to fly a flag upside down?

According to U.S. Flag Code, the flag should never be displayed upside-down “except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”

Can you leave the Australian flag up at night?

The flag should never be flown at half-mast at night even if it is illuminated.