Australia

Information about the Australian Flag: Colors and Meaning of the Flag of Australia

The Australian flag has an overall blue background and consists of three main elements. The British flag in the Canton, denoting Australia’s historical links with Great Britain. The Southern Cross in the second quarter and fourth quarter, taking up the right half of the flag. The five stars are: Alpha Crucis (7-point), Beta Crucis (7-point), Gamma Crucis (7-point), Delta Crucis (7-point) and the smaller Epsilon Crucis (5-point). The Commonwealth Star or Star of Federation, in the bottom left corner.

:: Meaning of the Australian Flag ::

Each of the three symbols on the flag has a special meaning for the free and democratic Australians united in purpose. The British flag, the combined crosses of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick, represents Australia’s early settlers. The British first colonized Australia in 1788 when they established a penal colony at Port Jackson. The stars of the Southern Cross represent Australia’s geographic position in the Southern Hemisphere. The seven-pointed star, known as the Commonwealth Star (Federation Star) represents each of Australia’s six states; one additional point represents Australia’s territories.

:: Meaning of the Coat of Arms of Australia ::

The Commonwealth Coat of Arms is the formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia and is used by the Australian Government departments and agencies, statutory and non-statutory authorities, the Parliament and Commonwealth courts and tribunals. The Coat of Arms of Australia consists of the badges of each Australian state (arranged in two rows of three columns):

New South Wales: the Cross of St George with lion & stars
Victoria: the Southern Cross
Queensland: a blue Maltese cross & Crown
South Australia: the Australian piping shrike
Western Australia: a black swan
Tasmania: a red walking lion

The Crest of the Coat of Arms consists of a seven-pointed gold star on a blue and gold wreath. The Red Kangaroo and Emu are the animals that hold the shield with pride and are the unofficial animal emblems of the nation. According to some common belief, the kangaroo and emu were chosen to symbolize a nation moving forward.