Australia's flags
Australia has three official flags: the Australian National Flag, the Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag. Questions usually ask what each colour and symbol represents, so learn them flag by flag.
What to remember
- National Flag (blue, white, red): Union Jack = British settlement & inherited institutions; 7-point Commonwealth Star = 6 states + territories; Southern Cross.
- Aboriginal Flag: black = Aboriginal peoples, red = the earth, yellow circle = the sun.
- Torres Strait Islander Flag: green = land, blue = sea, black = the people, white dancer's headdress = all Torres Strait Islanders, star points = island groups, white = peace.
Sample questions
What colours are on the Australian National Flag?Show answer
- Blue, white and red
- Black, red and yellow
- Green and gold
Blue, white and red. The Australian National Flag is blue, white and red. It shows the Union Jack, the Commonwealth Star and the Southern Cross.
What does the Union Jack on the Australian National Flag represent?Show answer
- Our history of British settlement and the laws and institutions inherited from it
- The stars of the southern sky
- The six states
Our history of British settlement and the laws and institutions inherited from it. The Union Jack in the top left corner is the flag of the United Kingdom. It represents our history of British settlement and the laws and institutions we inherited.
What do the seven points of the Commonwealth Star represent?Show answer
- The seven capital cities
- The six states, plus one point for the territories
- The seven original convict ships
The six states, plus one point for the territories. The Commonwealth Star has seven points: one for each of the six states and one for the territories.
Source: Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, p. 14. Read the full booklet on the Home Affairs website.