What is the difference between the red and blue Australian flag?
The red stripe on the flag represents the Australian Army, the dark blue stripe represents the Royal Australian Navy and the light blue stripe represents the Royal Australian Air Force. The Commonwealth Star and the boomerang on the Australian Defence Force ensign represent Australia.
Why is the Australian flag blue and red?
When the Commonwealth Government announced a competition to design a flag for Australia in 1901, entrants were asked to send a design for two flags – one for official and naval purposes and the other for merchant ships. This resulted in a Blue Ensign and a Red Ensign.
What is the red version of the Australian flag?
The Australian Red Ensign
Devices. The Australian Red Ensign is a predominantly red version of the Australian National Flag, using the same shade of red as the Cross of Saint George which is part of the Union Jack present in the canton.
How do I get a free Australian flag?
Australian flags can be obtained free of charge through the Constituents’ Request Programme by contacting the electorate office of your local Senator or Member of the House of Representatives.
Is the Australian national flag blue or red?
The Red Ensign is the same as the Australian National Flag (which can be referred to as the Blue Ensign), except with a red instead of a blue background. See the comparison below:
When was the Red Ensign added to the Australian flag?
As a result of the declaration of 3 September as Merchant Navy Day in 2008, the Red Ensign can be flown on land alongside the Australian national flag on this occasion as a matter of protocol.
Is the Australian flag the same color as the Union Jack?
Devices. The Australian red ensign is a predominantly red version of the Australian National Flag, using the same shade of red as the Cross of Saint George which is part of the Union Jack present in the canton.
When did Australia stop flying the Blue Flag?
This is why, in paintings of the opening of Old Parliament House in 1927, you can see red flags being flown instead of blue ones. As the blue flag took off in popularity, successive governments relaxed the restrictions, to the point that by the Second World War it was by default the Australian national flag.