Design
The flag of Australia has a dark blue field with the Union Jack in the upper hoist. Positioned on the fly are six stars: five arranged to represent the Southern Cross (constellation) and a larger star known as the Commonwealth Star.
Origins
When the six separate colonies formed a single nation in 1901, a public competition was organised to choose a national banner. The submitted designs were judged and a proposal that included the Union Jack and the stars was selected as the winner.
Use and legal status
The chosen design entered common use from about 1903 and remained in everyday use for decades. It did not receive formal legal recognition as the Australian national flag until 1953, when its status was clarified by national legislation.