Australian National Flag: Design, History and Legal Status
Overview of the Australian national flag: its design elements—the Union Jack, Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star—origins in the 1901 competition, and the flag’s formal legal recognition in 1953.
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.
Questions and answers
Q: What is the flag of Australia?
A: The flag of Australia is a national flag.
Q: When did Australia become a single country?
A: Australia became a single country in 1901.
Q: Was a competition held to design a new flag for Australia?
A: Yes, a competition was held to design a new flag for the new country.
Q: What are the elements of the winning flag design for Australia?
A: The winning flag has a blue background, the Union Jack, and six stars. Five stars are in the shape of the constellation the Southern Cross, the other is the Commonwealth Star.
Q: When was the flag first used?
A: The flag has been used from 1903.
Q: When did the flag become the official flag of Australia?
A: The flag did not become the official flag of Australia until 1953.
Q: How many colonies did Australia have before becoming a single country?
A: Australia had six separate colonies before becoming a single country.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Australian National Flag: Design, History and Legal Status Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/34733
Sources
- books.google.co.uk : "The Australian Flag"
- worldcat.org : 0810-8633
- ausstats.abs.gov.au : PDF file
- books.google.co.uk : Flag and Nation : Australians and Their National Flags Since 1901
- flagspot.net : History of the Australian national flag (Part 4)