Leslie Massey
The Australian flag features three prominent symbols: the Union Jack, the Southern Cross, and the Commonwealth Star. The Commonwealth Star, also known as the Federation Star, is a large, white, seven-pointed star located in the lower hoist quarter of the flag. But what does it represent?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Commonwealth Star, Federation Star |
| Number of points | 7 |
| What each point represents | 6 for the 6 states of Australia, 1 for the territories and any future territories or states |
| Position | Lower hoist quarter |
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What You'll Learn
The star is called the Commonwealth Star
The Australian flag is based on the British Blue Ensign, which is a blue field with the Union Jack in the upper hoist quarter. The flag also features the Southern Cross constellation, made up of five white stars. The Southern Cross is located in the fly half of the flag and is one of the most distinctive constellations visible in the Southern Hemisphere. It has been used to represent Australia since the early days of British settlement.
The current Australian flag was adopted in 1901, although it was not officially recognised until 1903. The design was chosen through a competition held following Federation. The original version of the flag featured a six-pointed Commonwealth Star, which was changed to seven points in 1908.
The Australian flag is a symbol of the country's history, heritage, and sovereignty. It is a reminder of the contributions of past and current generations and represents all Australian citizens equally, regardless of background, race, colour, religion, or age. The flag is to be treated with dignity and respect and is Australia's chief national symbol by law, custom, and tradition.
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It originally had six points
The Australian flag, also known as the flag of ["Stars and Crosses"], is based on the British Blue Ensign. It features three prominent symbols: the Union Jack, the Southern Cross, and the Commonwealth Star. The Union Jack, located in the canton, acknowledges the history of British settlement in Australia. The Southern Cross, located in the fly half of the flag, is one of the most distinctive constellations visible in the Southern Hemisphere and has been used to represent Australia since the early days of British settlement.
The Commonwealth Star, also known as the Federation Star, is located in the lower hoist quarter. It originally had six points, representing the six federating colonies. In 1908, a seventh point was added to symbolise the Territory of Papua and any future territories. The six states represented by the original six-pointed star were New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The seventh point represented the Northern Territory, which was previously known as the Territory of Papua.
The Australian flag in its current form was adopted in 1908, with the change from a six- to a seven-pointed Commonwealth Star. The original version of the flag first flew as the Commonwealth Blue Ensign on 3 September 1901, after being selected in a competition held following Federation. A slightly simplified version approved by King Edward VII was officially adopted in 1903. It was later modified to the current design on 8 December 1908, with the addition of the seventh point to the Commonwealth Star.
The Australian flag has undergone several changes since its original version in 1901. The Southern Cross stars were standardised in 1903, with four large stars of seven points each and one smaller star of five points. The six-pointed Commonwealth Star was changed to seven points in 1908 to include the territories in the representation. The current design, with its striking combination of stars and crosses, has become Australia's chief national symbol, reflecting the principles and ideals on which the nation was founded.
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The six points represented the six federating colonies
The Australian flag, also known as the
The six points of the Commonwealth Star originally represented the six federating colonies. In 1908, a seventh point was added to the star to symbolise the Territory of Papua and any future territories. The six federating colonies became the six states of Australia: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
The Southern Cross is located in the fly half of the flag and is one of the most distinctive constellations visible in the Southern Hemisphere. It has been used to represent Australia since the early days of British settlement. The five stars of the Southern Cross on the modern Australian flag differ from the original competition-winning design, in which they ranged between five and nine points each, representing their relative brightness in the night sky.
The Australian flag was adopted in its current form in 1901, and the design was chosen through a competition held following Federation. The flag is based on the British Blue Ensign, which is a blue field with the Union Jack in the upper hoist quarter. The Union Jack acknowledges the history of British settlement in Australia. The Australian flag was recognised by law on 14 February 1954, when it was approved by the British sovereign.
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A seventh point was added to symbolise the Territory of Papua
The Australian flag features a large white seven-pointed star, known as the Commonwealth Star, in the lower hoist quarter. The six original points of the star represented the six federating colonies. However, in 1908, a seventh point was added to the Commonwealth Star, symbolising the Territory of Papua and any future territories.
The Territory of Papua was Australia's first territory, and it existed from 1906 to 1949. In 1949, it became the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, which lasted until 1975. The addition of the seventh point to the Commonwealth Star on the Australian flag in 1908 effectively removed the need for additional territory badges. This change occurred around the same time that the Territory of Papua came into existence, and it ensured that the Australian flag could represent any future territories without requiring further modifications.
The Australian flag also features the Southern Cross constellation, made up of five white stars. The Southern Cross is one of the most distinctive constellations visible in the Southern Hemisphere and has been used to represent Australia since the early days of British settlement. The three crosses of the Southern Cross symbolise the principles and ideals on which the nation was founded, including parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, freedom of speech, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
The Australian flag is based on the British Blue Ensign, which features a blue field with the Union Jack in the upper hoist quarter. The Union Jack acknowledges the history of British settlement in Australia. The Australian flag was officially adopted in 1903, and the current design, with the seven-pointed Commonwealth Star, was finalised in 1908. The flag is a meaningful symbol that represents all Australian citizens, and it serves as a reminder of the contributions of past and current generations to the nation.
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The star does not relate to Beta Centauri
The Australian National Flag consists of three main elements: the Union Jack, the Southern Cross, and the Commonwealth Star. The Union Jack, composed of red and white intersecting and overlayed vertical and diagonal crosses on a blue background, is located in the upper hoist quadrant or first quarter (also known as the canton). The Southern Cross, located in the second and fourth quarters, consists of five stars in a kite-like pattern. The Commonwealth Star, also known as the Federation Star, is located in the lower hoist quarter.
The large white seven-pointed Commonwealth Star does not relate to Beta Centauri. It originally had six points, representing the six federating colonies. In 1908, a seventh point was added to symbolise the Territory of Papua and any future territories. The six points of the star represented the six states of Australia, and the seventh point represented the territories. The star was changed to symbolise all Australian citizens, equally of whatever background, race, colour, religion, or age.
The Southern Cross is one of the most distinctive constellations visible in the Southern Hemisphere and has been used to represent Australia since the early days of British settlement. The number of points on the stars of the Southern Cross on the modern Australian flag differs from the original competition-winning design, in which they ranged between five and nine points, representing their relative brightness in the night sky. The five stars of the Southern Cross are Alpha Crucis, Beta Crucis, Gamma Crucis, Delta Crucis, and the smaller Epsilon Crucis.
The Australian flag has undergone several changes over the years. The current design was adopted on 8 December 1908, with the change from a six- to a seven-point Commonwealth Star. The Australian National Flag is a meaningful symbol that represents the principles and ideals on which the nation was founded and is a reminder of the contributions of past and current generations.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian flag is blue with the Union Jack in the upper hoist quadrant, the Southern Cross in the second and fourth quarters, and the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter.
The Union Jack is composed of red and white intersecting and overlayed vertical and diagonal crosses on a blue background. It represents Australia's historical links with Great Britain.
The big star on the Australian flag is the Commonwealth Star, also known as the Federation Star. It originally had six points, representing the six federating colonies. In 1908, a seventh point was added to symbolise the Territory of Papua and any future territories.
The five smaller stars on the Australian flag represent the Southern Cross constellation. They relate to various indigenous legends and remind us of Australia's rich and precious Aboriginal and Torres Strait heritage.
The six points on the Commonwealth Star represent the six states of Australia. The seventh point represents the territories and any future states.
