Australian Flag

The flag of Australia was selected in 1901 from a worldwide design competition. The general design was used as the general design framework, but was changed by Australian and British authorities before the final design was officially approved. Finally in 1954 the current Australian flag was officially adopted as the "Australian National Flag".

The flag incorporates the Union Flag, the official flag of United Kingdom in a blue background in the canton (upper hoist quarter), and a large white seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star in the lower quarter portion. The right portion of the flag represents the Southern Cross constellation, made up of five white stars – one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars.

The flag of Australia was defined in the Flags Act 1953. The Union Flag is symbolizes Australia's connection to the United Kingdom as the sixth British colony. The Commonwealth Star represents the seven federating colonies. The seventh star represents the Territory of Papua which was added in 1908 and any future territories.