The flag of Australia is based on the British maritime Blue Ensign ââ¬â a blue field with the Union Jack in the canton or upper hoist quarter ââ¬â augmented or defaced with a large white seven-pointed star the Commonwealth Star and a representation of the Southern Cross constellation, made up of five white stars ââ¬â one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars. There are other official flags representing Australia, its people and core functions of government.nnThe flag`s original design with a six-pointed Commonwealth Star was chosen in 1901 from entries in a competition held following Federation, and was first flown in Melbourne on 3 September 1901, the date proclaimed as Australian National Flag Day. A slightly different design was approved by King Edward VII in 1903. The seven-pointed commonwealth star version was introduced by a proclamation dated 8 December 1908. The dimensions were formally gazetted in 1934, and in 1954 the flag became recognised by, and legally defined in, the Flags Act 1953, as the `Australian National Flag`.
|
