When it comes to states, most people think of the United States. Yet, American is not the only country who has this type of political division. Another prominent country that has both a country and state flags is the Commonwealth of Australia. It consists of what were originally six separate colonies under the government and control of the United Kingdom (UK).
The Six States of Australia
Australia consists of 6 states. These are:
1. New South Wales
2. Queensland
3. Victoria
4. Southern Australia
5. Tasmania
6. Western Australia
Each has and flies its own state flag. Yet, these state flags all have something in common with the flag of their country.
It does not matter which of the states you consider within this group of six, they all pay homage to the country to which they owe allegiance. All state flags reflect the Australian flag that, in turn, reflects its former ties to the British Commonwealth. In other words, both state flags and the flag of Australia feature the British Ensign in some position on the flag.
The Basic of the State Flags
The Australian flag has the Flag of England in the under the Canton in the hoist. It is on a field of blue and has 6 stars on the background. The largest seven pointed star – the Commonwealth Star, or Star of Federation, lies below this. On the right or fly side is a kite-shaped constellation (the Southern Cross) formed of 4 6-pointed stars and 1 5-pointed star.
Six State Flags with a Commonality
Each of the states has chosen to adopt and adapt the Australian flag to represent them. All the state flags feature the Union Jack and place it in the same position
- New South Wales – 15 February 1876. Top left corner contains the Union Jack. The fly side features a red St. George’s Cross touching the sides of a white disc. Each corner of the Cross displays an 8-pointed golden star. A lion stands in the centre of the cross.
- Victoria – 30 November 1877. The flag has had minor changes twice – 1901 and 1953. In addition to the Union Jack, this flag features a St. Edward’s Crown and the Southern Cross. The 5 stars of the Sothern Cross all have a different number of points to indicate brightness.
- Queensland – 29 November 1876. In addition to Union Jack, this flag has a in a white circle on the fly side a blue Maltese Cross bearing within its center a Crown.
- South Australia – 14 January 1904. With the Union Jack firmly ensconced in the Hoist, the state badge sits in the fly. It is a bird within a yellow circle or disc. Purportedly the bird is an Australian piping shrike. It is, according to some experts a white-backed magpie.
- Tasmania – 29 November 1875. In addition to the Union Jacket in the left corner, the Tasmanian badge consists of a red lion passant within a white disc.
- Western Australia – 3 January 1870. To the left of the black swan featured in a yellow disc. The swan originally looked away from the hoist. This changed in 1954. It now looks towards the hoist.
The state flags of Australia have a commonality to two countries: Australia and the UK. They all feature the Union Jack. Yet, each of them has adapted the design to feature a specific characteristic of their own.
