Flag of the Murray River (South Australia c1850) 

Explorer Charles Sturt named the 2500km long Murray River on the 14th of January 1830, after Sir George Murray, an English statesman.

The Murray River flag was originally used by paddle steamers on the Murray River. 

The exact date the Murray River flag was designed is unknown, however, it was flying in 1853 and may have been used as early as 1850. 

While no pictorial record exists of this early flag, Murray River flags are based on newspaper descriptions and contain the same basic features: the British Union Flag or Union Jack in the upper hoist, 5 stars placed on a red cross and horizontal stripes of blue and white.

The Symbolic Meaning

The basic design of the flag may be a maritime link to the British Naval Ensign, the red cross of St George on a white field with the Union Jack in the upper hoist. 

The Union Jack in the upper hoist symbolises the historical link to Great Britain.

The 5 stars on the cross are believed to symbolise the five colonies of Australia, existing at the time the flag was constructed: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.

The 4 blue horizontal lines are believed to represent the rivers of the Murray system: the Murray River, Murrumbidgee River, Darling River, Lachlan River and either the Edwards River or the Goulburn River.