Australian Aboriginal Flag

Australian Aboriginal Flag

Australian Aboriginal Flag

The Australian Aboriginal Flag is an official flag of Australia, along with the Australian National Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag.

The Australian Aboriginal Flag is well recognised as the flag of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia.  It is flown during NAIDOC Week to celebrate and promote greater understanding of Indigenous peoples and their culture and during National Reconciliation Week in recognition of 27 May as the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum which removed from the Constitution clauses that discriminated against Indigenous Australians and 3 June as the anniversary of the High Court decision in the Eddie Mabo land rights case of 1992.

About the Australian Aboriginal Flag

The top half of the flag is black to symbolise Indigenous people. The red in the lower half stands for the earth and the colour of ochre, which is used in Aboriginal ceremonies. The circle of yellow in the centre of the flag represents the sun.

History of the Australian Aboriginal Flag

Mr Harold Thomas from Northern Australia designed the Australian Aboriginal Flag.

The flag was first raised on 12 July 1971 at Victoria Square in Adelaide. It was also used at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972.

Proclamation

The then Governor-General, Bill Hayden AC, proclaimed the Australian Aboriginal Flag a flag of Australia on 14 July 1995.

The proclamation is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S259.

Use of the Australian Aboriginal Flag

Permission is not required to fly the Australian Aboriginal Flag.

The Australian Aboriginal Flag is protected by copyright and may only be reproduced in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 or with the permission of Mr Harold Thomas.

Print fact sheet

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This factsheet is tailored to suit education resources for teachers/students. Please view the Symbols section for further information.

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