Flag of Australia

Meaning and history of the flag of Australia

The flag of Australia has a royal blue field with the British Union Jack in the upper hoist canton, a large white seven-pointed star beneath it known as the Commonwealth Star, and five white stars to the right forming the constellation of the Southern Cross (Crux). Four of these stars have seven points each, while the smallest has five.

The Commonwealth Star's seven points stand for Australia's six original states plus its territories. The Southern Cross is the most visible constellation from the southern hemisphere and symbolizes the country's geographic location. The Union Jack reflects Australia's historical ties to the United Kingdom as a former British colony. The flag was officially adopted on September 3, 1901, shortly after the federation of the Australian colonies.

Australia's flag is notably similar to New Zealand's, which likewise combines a blue field with the Union Jack and the Southern Cross, though with only four red stars edged in white. The resemblance has repeatedly caused confusion and sparked debate in both countries. Australia has seen periodic movements to adopt a new flag that better reflects an independent national identity, including proposals incorporating Indigenous elements, though no change has been made to date.

You can view the flag of Australia in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Australia profile, its map, or the current local time in Canberra.