Flag of Australia: history, meaning

A flag of Australia is the ultimate symbol of this country, which is one of the most developed and industrialized nations on the planet. The flag was officially adopted by the country on September 3, 1901 and features the representation of the flag of the United Kingdom in its corner. top left, evidencing the British influence on the design of the flag, which stems from the fact that Australia is a former colony british.

Read too: Flag of the United States — the flag of one of the most influential countries in the world

Topics of this article

  • 1 - Abstract about the flag of Australia
  • 2 - History of the flag of Australia
  • 3 - Meaning of the flag of Australia
    • → Meaning of the colors of the flag of Australia
    • → Meaning of the symbols of the flag of Australia
  • 4 - Flag of Australia x flag of New Zealand
  • 5 - Other flags of Australia
  • 6 - Main characteristics of Australia
  • 7 - Curiosities about the flag of Australia

Australia flag summary

  • The history of the Australian flag is linked to the emergence of the Commonwealth of Australia, which became independent from the United Kingdom.

  • In the upper left corner of the flag of Australia there is a representation of the flag of the United Kingdom.

  • In total, the flag of Australia has three colors: blue, red and white, which are precisely the colors of the flag of the United Kingdom.

  • The Australian flag is a source of controversy, especially because of its design inspired by the British flag, which refers to the country's colonization period.

  • The seven-pointed white star indicates the six Australian states and territories that make up Australia.

  • Australia is geographically located in the Southern Hemisphere, between the Indian and Pacific oceans, being the largest territory in Oceania.

Australia flag history

The current flag of Australia was officially adopted on September 3, 1901. The History of the Australian Flag is linked to the emergence of the Commonwealth of Australia, which represented greater autonomy for Australia from its former colonizing nation, the UK. Thus, for the choice of the local flag, a contest was held that chose the current design, despite the fact that it has undergone some occasional changes over the last century.

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Australia flag meaning

The flag of Australia is made up of a blue background. In its upper left corner, there is the representation of the flag of the United Kingdom, a country of which Australia is a former colony. Just below is a seven-pointed star, in white. In the right portion of the flag of Australia there is the representation of the Southern Cross, with four white seven-pointed stars, and a small white five-pointed star.

Australia flag colors meaning

In total, the flag of Australia has three colors: blue, red and white. The adoption of these colors does not have a specific meaning, but refers to the United Kingdom, which was the nation that colonized Australia and which still has great influence in Australian politics. Thus, the colors of the flag of Australia can be understood as a reference to the British.

Australia flag symbols meaning

The various symbols on the Australian flag represent the United Kingdom and also aspects of geography Australian. The reference to the United Kingdom is explicit in the design of the upper left corner of the Australian flag. In turn, the seven-pointed white star indicates the six Australian states and territories that make up that country. already the Southern Cross refers to the geographic location of Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere of the planet.

See too: Flag of Argentina — the flag that brings the symbol independence argentinian

Australia flag vs New Zealand flag

The flag of Australia and the flag of New Zealandhave similar designs. However, the New Zealand flag does not have a large seven-pointed star like the Australian flag and still has substantial changes in the design of the Cruzeiro do Sul, with red stars on the edges white.

New Zealand flag.
New Zealand flag.

Other flags of Australia

Australia's flag is controversial, especially because of its design inspired by the flag of the United Kingdom, which refers to the period of colonization of the country. The major criticism leveled at the design of the Australian flag is that it does not represent the aborigines, traditional Australian population.

In that regard, campaigns are carried out andm advocating the adoption of new flags for Australia, closer to the historical reality of the country. In this sense, the colors green and yellow stand out, commonly adopted by Australian athletes, which refer to wattle, typical species of the Australian flora.

Australia's main features

City of Canberra, capital of Australia, one of the places where Australian flags are hoisted on public buildings.
The city of Canberra is the capital of Australia.

Australia is a country located in Oceania. Australia's regional division comprises six states and seven territories. The city of Canberra is the capital of Australia. Other important cities in the country are: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

the country is geographically situatedO in the Southern Hemisphere, between the Indian Ocean and the ocean Pacific, being the largest territory in Oceania. In addition to its continental portion, Australia has several islands, making it the sixth largest country in terms of land area in the world.

In Australia, there is a great diversity of climate and vegetation and also a very jagged coastline, with the presence of several beaches. The country also has extensive desert areas and a substantial biodiversity of species. There is a high rate of flora and fauna endemism in Australia.

The Australian territory is relatively populous but sparsely populated. Economically, the exploitation of mineral goods stands out, the modern industry of manufactured goods and the tourism. Australia is one highly developed and industrialized nation which has great regional prominence in geopolitical terms. Furthermore, the country is recognized for its defense of human rights and the adoption of liberal policies.

Facts about the flag of Australia

  • The 3rd of September, the date of the official adoption of the flag of Australia, is also when Australia celebrates Flag Day.

  • The official dimensions of the flag of Australia are 1 meter wide and 2 meters long.

  • The Australian Aboriginal people, the traditional population of Australia, have their own flag.

By Mateus Campos
Geography teacher

Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:

CAMPOS, Matthew. "Flag of Australia"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/bandeira-da-australia.htm. Accessed on April 07, 2023.

Did you know that Australia is the sixth largest country in the world by area? Click here to deepen your knowledge about this important nation in Oceania.

Click and check out the main characteristics of New Zealand.

Learn about Oceania, the smallest continent in the world. Learn about their countries, physical aspects and also about the economy, history and culture of the continent.

See which countries are in Oceania. Find out how many countries are part of the continent and also find out which regions it is divided into.

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