Meet the Australian Flags: Symbols of Unity and Identity

 Australia is a country rich in history and filled with amazing people of all nationalities. It's a diverse country that treats all of its citizens equally and respects them no matter who they are. We believe that everyone's identity and background are important. Because of this Australia has a few official flags that represent different groups of people and nationalities. Each one is unique in its own way and deserves to be displayed with pride.

Torres Strait Islander Flag

source: tsra.gov.au

Australia has 3 different official national flags. The official national flag, the Aboriginal flag and the amazing flag of Torres Strait Islander. It's chosen to be a representation of the Torres Strait Islander people and their unity and identity. It was designed by Bernard Namok among more than 100 other flags in a competition organised by The Islands Coordinating Council in 1992.

It was officially presented on the 29th of May of the same year and recognised by ATSIC. At the same time, it was given the same prominence as the Australian Aboriginal flag. In 1995 the Australian government proclaimed it as a “Flag of Australia”. You don’t need special permission to use it, but when you do it has to be in the original colours and recognition should be given to the late Bernard Namok.

This is a colourful flag that has 3 horizontal panels divided by two thin black lines. There's also a white Dhari in the middle, plus a white five-pointed star inside of it. Every colour and element has a meaning and stands for something unique for the Torres Strait Islander people and their identity and tradition.

The two green panels are at the top and the bottom. They're the part of the flag that represents the land the islanders are living on. More specifically, it stands for the mainlands of Australia and Papua New Guinea. The blue panel is in the middle between the two green ones and it stands for the waters that surround the Torres Strait Islands. The two thin black lines are the people and their connection to the sea and the land.

The white Dhari is a unique representation of the Islanders. It's a ceremonial headdress they use and, on the flag, it represents their community. The last element is the five-pointed star underneath the Dhari. It stands for peace, the stars as a navigational tool and the 5 big island groups:

• Northern division with Boigu, Saibai and Dauan;
• Eastern islands with Mer, Erub and Ugar;
• Western division with Kubin, St. Pauls, Mabuiag and Badu;
• Central division with Masig, Warraber, Poruma and Iama;
• Southern division with Horn, Thursday, NPA and Mainland Australia, Prince of Wales and Hammond Islands.

Aboriginal Flag

Along with the flag of Torres Strait Islander, Australia has another important flag, and that’s the Aboriginal one. It was designed by Harold Thomas in 1971 and it was first displayed and flown on 12 July 1971 at Victoria Square in Adelaide. Soon after, in 1972 it was accepted as the official flag for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra.

The Aboriginal flag has gained widespread recognition over time as a representation of the pride and dignity of the Aboriginal people as well as their solidarity. It has flown at athletic events, political rallies, and festivities all around the nation since the 1970s. It's also often displayed outside important buildings in Australia to show respect for Indigenous Australians.

In July 1995, it officially became the "Flag of Australia." Most people saw this as a sign of reconciliation between the government of Australia and the historically evicted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The Aboriginal flag is made of 3 colours, red, black and yellow. The top part of the flag is black and it represents the Aboriginal people.

The bottom part is red and is the section that symbolises the people’s spiritual connection to the red earth. It's also the colour oche which is used in Aboriginal ceremonies. The final section is a yellow circle in the middle of the flag. This one is a depiction of the sun which is considered to be a constant renewer of life.

National Flag

Do you know why there are that many stars on the Australian flag or why are they positioned like that? It all started with the effort of early sailors to find Australia. They used the five stars, also called the Southern Cross, as a guide, just as navigators and bushmen do today. They became a strong symbol of Australia’s discovery and were incorporated into the flag.

The Union Jack, the Southern Cross, and the Commonwealth Star are the three main symbols that make up the Australian national flag. The Union Jack in the upper left corner symbolises the history of British colonisation in Australia, which had a significant role in the birth of this nation. The Commonwealth Star, which stands directly beneath the Union Jack, symbolises the federal form of government.

The star has seven points. Six of them represent the six states in Australia and the 7th was added to represent the Australian territories. The Southern Cross has 5 t-pointed stars arranged in a cross. All 3, the Torres islander flag, the Aboriginal and the national flag are a representation of this country and the unity of the people living in it.

Red Ensign

The Australian red ensign is basically the national Australian flag but with a red background instead of a blue one. In the beginning, it was used on both land and sea, but it became confusing for people. So, in 1953 it became the official flag to be flown at sea. Nowadays, it’s flown by Australian registered merchant ships. It can be displayed on land on some particular occasions like Australia National Flag Day.

Centenary Flag

The Centenary flag is essentially Australia’s National flag with a simple addition of a small headband. This headband has an inscription that commemorates the first flying of the national flag on 3 September 1901. There's also a crimson stripe to symbolise the ties of kindred that form the foundation of the federation. It's displayed on ceremonial occasions like the opening of Parliament.