The Flag of Australia
The flag of Australia is a defaced Blue Ensign: a blue field with the Union Jack in the canton (upper hoist quarter), and a large white seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter. The fly contains a representation of the Southern Cross constellation, made up of five white stars – one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars.
History of The Flag of Australia
The flag of Australia was first flown in 1901. It was chosen from a competition that attracted 32,823 entries, following the federation of the Australian colonies. The original design had a six-pointed Commonwealth Star and only the first four stars of the Southern Cross had seven points, the fifth being a smaller five-pointed star. In 1903, the flag underwent a slight modification, and in 1908, the Commonwealth Star was updated to have seven points to represent the Australian states and territories. The current specifications were officially standardized in 1954 after the passing of the Flags Act by the Australian government, solidifying the flag's dimensions and design elements as they are known today.