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The Australian Red Ensign (flag) is a red version of the national flag of Australia.
It was adopted in 1901 for use by the merchant navy, but restrictions governing the use of the Commonwealth Blue Ensign (as the national flag was then called) saw it used as a civil flag as well.
The confusion about its use continued until the Flags Act 1953, which stipulated the Commonwealth Blue Ensign was the Australian National Flag and the Commonwealth Red Ensign
was the Australian Red Ensign for use by Australian registered merchant ships.
The current flag dates from the 15th of April 1954. |
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Like many other countries in the British Commonwealth, Australia maintains the Union Jack in the upper hoist, symbolizing the country's historical link to Great Britain.
The Federation Star located beneath the Union Jack represents unity, with a point for each of the six states and a seventh point representing the territories.
The five stars in the fly of the flag symbolise the constellation the Southern Cross, representing the stars Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta each with seven points and Epsilon with five points because it doesn't shine as brightly as the other stars in the constellation.
The Southern Cross is a prominent constellation of the southern hemisphere. It denotes Australia's geographical
position in the world.
Thus, the flag represents Australia’s history, its unity and its place in the world. |
