Australian Federation Flag
Encyclopedia
The Australian Federation Flag, also known as the New South Wales Ensign, was the result of an attempt in the 1830s to create a national flag for Australia
, which was divided at the time into several British colonies.
Captain Jacob Gronow, Harbour Master of Port Jackson
(Sydney), proposed the flag in 1831 in The NSW
Calendar and Post Office Gazette; Gronow also designed the flag, which was based on the Colonial Flag of 1823
.
Like the Colonial Flag, the Federation Flag features a combination of the Union Flag
and the Southern Cross
, but the cross is blue, not red, and there are five stars, not four. The flag's appearance varied greatly depending on where it was made: different manufacturers produced Federation Flags with darker or lighter shades of blue for the cross background; using five-pointed stars instead of eight; or positioning the stars in different places.
The Eureka Flag
, flown by rebels at the Eureka Stockade
in 1854, was reportedly influenced by designs such as the Federation flag.
While the Federation Flag proved popular and was widely used on the East Coast of Australia for over 70 years, it was never officially adopted. It was especially popular proponents of Australian Federation and was also used as a unofficial ensign
by the merchant marine. In 1884 Lord Derby of the Colonial Office
banned the use of the Flag at sea, possibly because of its similarity to the British White Ensign
.
In the 1880s and early 1890s it was used as a symbol of the political movement towards Federation, with groups like the Australian Natives Association
and the Australian Federation League using it to promote national consciousness of their push for Federation, under the slogan "One People, One Destiny, One Flag".
The flag was a favourite of Australia's first Prime Minister
, Sir Edmund Barton, who asked that a variant be considered for approval along with the competition-winning Blue Ensign
. The Colonial Office rejected the Federation Flag, issuing Barton a mild rebuke. The Australian government received approval to fly the Blue Ensign in 1903, but the Australian Federation Flag was still being flown by Australian citizens as late as the 1920s.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, which was divided at the time into several British colonies.
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
(Sydney), proposed the flag in 1831 in The NSW
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Calendar and Post Office Gazette; Gronow also designed the flag, which was based on the Colonial Flag of 1823
National Colonial Flag for Australia
The National Colonial Flag for Australia was the forerunner of the many Australian flag designs which featured the Southern Cross and Union Flag in combination. It is the first recorded attempt to design a distinctive national flag for Australia...
.
Like the Colonial Flag, the Federation Flag features a combination of the Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
and the Southern Cross
Crux
Crux is the smallest of the 88 modern constellations, but is one of the most distinctive. Its name is Latin for cross, and it is dominated by a cross-shaped asterism that is commonly known as the Southern Cross.-Visibility:...
, but the cross is blue, not red, and there are five stars, not four. The flag's appearance varied greatly depending on where it was made: different manufacturers produced Federation Flags with darker or lighter shades of blue for the cross background; using five-pointed stars instead of eight; or positioning the stars in different places.
The Eureka Flag
Eureka Flag
The Eureka Flag is a design; a dark blue field with a central white symmetric cross consisting five eight-pointed stars, representing the Crux constellation....
, flown by rebels at the Eureka Stockade
Eureka Stockade
The Eureka Rebellion of 1854 was an organised rebellion by gold miners which occurred at Eureka Lead in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The Battle of Eureka Stockade was fought on 3 December 1854 and named for the stockade structure erected by miners during the conflict...
in 1854, was reportedly influenced by designs such as the Federation flag.
While the Federation Flag proved popular and was widely used on the East Coast of Australia for over 70 years, it was never officially adopted. It was especially popular proponents of Australian Federation and was also used as a unofficial ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
by the merchant marine. In 1884 Lord Derby of the Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
banned the use of the Flag at sea, possibly because of its similarity to the British White Ensign
British ensigns
This article concerns the ensigns flown by vessels and aircraft of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and by certain nations of the Commonwealth....
.
In the 1880s and early 1890s it was used as a symbol of the political movement towards Federation, with groups like the Australian Natives Association
Australian Natives Association
The Australian Natives' Association , a mutual society was founded in Melbourne, Australia in April 1871. The Association played a leading role in the movement for Australian federation in the last 20 years of the 19th century. In 1900 it had a membership of 17,000, mainly in Victoria.The ANA...
and the Australian Federation League using it to promote national consciousness of their push for Federation, under the slogan "One People, One Destiny, One Flag".
The flag was a favourite of Australia's first Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
, Sir Edmund Barton, who asked that a variant be considered for approval along with the competition-winning Blue Ensign
Flag of Australia
The flag of Australia is a defaced Blue Ensign: a blue field with the Union Flag in the canton , and a large white seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter...
. The Colonial Office rejected the Federation Flag, issuing Barton a mild rebuke. The Australian government received approval to fly the Blue Ensign in 1903, but the Australian Federation Flag was still being flown by Australian citizens as late as the 1920s.
External links
- New South Wales Ensign/Federation Flag Flags of the World discussion on the history of the Federation Flag
- A New Flag for Australia: Current Flag A New Flag for Australia brief history of the Blue Ensign and the Federation Flag.
- Our Federation Journey 1901-2001 Victorian Government Federation pamphlet (PDF)