Last modified: 2018-11-10 by ian macdonald
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![[Australian flag]](../images/a/au.gif)
image by António Martins, 28 Nov 2005
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The Australian flag is composed of three parts:
All the stars have an inner diameter (circle on which the inner corners rest) of 4/9 the outer diameter (circle of outer corners), even the 5-point star. The positions of the stars are as follows:
For more details, including a picture and a comparison with the New Zealand flag, see our page on the construction of the Australian flag.
Below is a summary of the history of the Australian flag. We have a separate page with a more detailed history. The links in the summary below point to the appropriate sections of the detailed history.
![[Australian civil ensign]](../images/a/au~red.gif)
image by António Martins, 28 Nov 2005
The Admiralty Warrant of 4 June 1903 authorised the Australian Red Ensign for
vessels registered in Australia. In 1932 it was realised that this did not
include the majority of private non-commercial vessels, which were rarely
registered. Technically they were liable to a substantial fine if they did not
fly the British Red Ensign. An Admiralty Warrant of 5 December 1938 replaced
that of 1903 and authorised all ships and boats owned by British residents in
Australia and New Guinea Mandated Territory to fly the Australian Red Ensign.
[Public Record Office ADM 1/8760/224 and ADM 1/9477]
David Prothero, 12 September 2001
This Admiralty Warrant authorising the wearing of the Commonwealth Red Ensign in place of the British Red Ensign had been signed on 25 November 1938 by Charles Little and Geoffrey S. Arbuthnot, and by command of their Lordships, R.H.A. Carter. The text of the Warrant was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 32, Thursday 18 May 1939, on pages 841 and 842 under the signature of R.G. Menzies, the Australian Prime Minister.
Jeff Thomson, 4 September 2017
Initially, the Red Ensign was the only flag
private citizens could fly on land. In 1941 Robert Menzies, the Prime Minister, announced that there should be no
restriction on flying the Australian Blue Ensign, and in 1947 the Prime
Minister, who was then Joseph Chifley, issued a press statement that actively
encouraged its use by private citizens. [The Australian Flag [fol96] by Carol Foley]
David Prothero, 12 September 2001
After the 1953 Flags Act, the 'blue ensign' became the national flag for private citizens on land. This is still true
today.
Miles Li, 15 September 2001
Under Section 30 of the 1981 Shipping Registration Act, an
Australian merchant ship can fly only the Australian Red Ensign, but other
Australian vessels can fly either the Australian Red Ensign or the Australian
National Flag, but not both at the same time.
David Prothero, 16 September 2001
At http://www.amsa.gov.au/sro/brochures/broaros.htm [was] an online brochure published by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which confirms and expands on what David said:
Flying the FlagThe full text of the statute is atRegistered commercial ships over 24 metres in tonnage length must fly the Australian Red Ensign. All other registered ships have the choice of flying either the Australian National Flag or the Red Ensign.
An unregistered Australian owned ship can be issued with a certificate entitling it to fly either flag. Some ships are allowed to fly other flags in Australian waters only. These include: a State or Territory flag, a flag or ensign authorised by warrant under the Flags Act 1953, and the British Blue Ensign if the owner intending to fly it has a warrant to do so valid under British law.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/sra1981254/s30.html.A brochure can now be found at:
http://www.amsa.gov.au/Shipping_Registration/Guides/National_Colours_for_Ships.asp.
The Australian Attorney-General's Department web
site, which is linked from the above referenced Australian Maritime Safety
Authority web site, confirms Regulation 22 (Section 30) applies.
Colin Dobson, 3 April 2005
The history of Australian Red Ensign (ARE) use on land continues due to the Merchant Navy
Association flying the ARE at their headquarters and at memorial services. A number of TV
history dramas have ARE flying, The Dunera Boys was one such example. Old
sailors may do so also. Re-enactments of historical events also use the ARE. Finally, there is a history, however limited, of it still being used at rural
agricultural fairs. I can recall seeing it used at the ANZAC Day March in the late 1960s. The ARE is still in
declining evidence on land.
Steve Duke, 5 September 2007
The third of September is both Australian National Flag Day (proclaimed 1996) and Merchant Navy Day (proclaimed 2008). On this day Australians are encouraged to fly both the national flag and red ensign on land, the ARE subordinate to the ANF. At present the ARE is only approved for use on land for ceremonial purposes. It can also be seen in some politicians' offices as a display flag.
Jeff Thomson, 15 October 2015
During the trials period before newly-built Royal Australian Navy ships and submarines are commissioned, they are given the NUSHIP prefix to their name and fly the Australian Red Ensign.
Jeff Thomson, 4 September 2017
The (Australian) Flags Act,1953; Section 8 (p. 2) states “This Act does not
effect the right or privilege of a person to fly the Union Jack.”
I
understand that this particular Section was drafted during the period of Prime
Minister Robert Menzies to ensure that any Australian could continue to fly the
Union Jack if they so desired.
One could run the argument that prior to
the Proclamation of the Flags Act, 1953 ( in 1954 ); that the Union Jack was
actually the National Flag of the Commonwealth of Australia, being a Dominion,
and that the Australian Red Ensign ( Maritime and de facto Civilian ), and the
Australian Blue Ensign ( Government ) were, being Ensigns, subsidiary to the
National Flag, being the Union Jack.
If you look at photos pre-1954 you
will notice that where both the Union Jack and the Red or Blue Australian Ensign
appear together, the Union Jack is to the left of the Australian Ensign;
however, post proclamation, the Union Jack is displayed to the right of the
Australian Blue Ensign, which is now called the Australian National Flag.
Therefore, the practical effect of the Flag Act, 1953 is that while
recognising the former Australian Blue Ensign as the Australian National Flag ,
the continued flying of the Union Jack was specifically authorised to continue,
and furthermore, this is still the case to this day.
Philip Miller,
9 October 2018
Indeed, the Flags Act 1953 had the effect of reversing the protocol priority
of what had de facto developed as a dual national flag: the Australian blue
ensign and the Union Jack, as explained by Mr Miller. Over time, the usage of
the Union Jack in Australia diminished, so by the 1970s it was rarely seen
alongside the Australian National Flag.
Ralph Kelly, 10 October 2018