Parliament Commemorates 124 Years of the Australian National Flag
The Australian National Flag celebrated its 124th birthday on September 1, 2023, with a lively ceremony held in the Great Hall of Parliament. The event featured schoolchildren singing the national anthem alongside Members of Parliament (MPs), under the direction of House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick. “The national flag is our most recognised national symbol. It flies above our nation’s parliament, 365 days a year, seven days a week. It’s a symbol of our unity, our identity, and pride,” Dick stated during the celebration.
This annual observance, known as National Flag Day, was officially declared in 1996. It commemorates the first instance of the flag being flown in 1901 at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. The date also coincides with National Wattle Day, a day dedicated to celebrating Australia’s resilience and unity.
A Historical Competition for the Flag’s Design
During the ceremony, Dick highlighted the origins of the flag, which resulted from one of the world’s first open design competitions. “The Federation, the new Commonwealth government, held a competition that received 30,000 entries,” he noted. The designs submitted varied widely, featuring everything from a Union Jack with the Southern Cross to imaginative kangaroo illustrations. The winners, who were students, received a prize of approximately £200.
Dick elaborated on the flag’s elements: the Union Jack symbolizes Australia’s historical ties to Britain, the Commonwealth Star originally had six points but was updated to seven to represent the territories, and the Southern Cross constellation signifies Australia’s geographical location in the southern hemisphere.
Reflections on the Flag’s Significance
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman added further insights, emphasizing the care that goes into raising and maintaining the flag atop Parliament. He pointed out a unique aspect of Australia’s Flags Act of 1953: it is the only piece of legislation that includes an illustration detailing how the flag must be prepared.
Gorman connected the flag’s story to Australia’s broader historical narrative, recalling that the constitution was first carried to London 125 years ago, even before a flag had been officially chosen. “Of course, it was a very Australian solution to make it an open competition where anyone could send their designs,” he remarked.
The ceremony served not only as a celebration of the flag’s history but also as a reminder of its ongoing significance in representing the values and identity of the Australian people. As the flag continues to be displayed proudly, it remains a powerful symbol of unity and national pride for the nation.
