Flag of Western Australia facts for kids
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| Use | Civil and state flag  |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | 3 November 1953 |
| Design | A British blue ensign with the State Badge in the fly |
The flag of Western Australia is the official flag for the state of Western Australia in Australia. It features a dark blue background with the Union Flag (the flag of the United Kingdom) in the top left corner. On the right side, it has the state's special symbol, called the State Badge. This badge shows a black swan.
This flag was officially adopted on 3 November 1953. It replaced an older design that was very similar. The main change was the direction the black swan was facing. The flag of Western Australia looks a lot like the flags of the other five Australian states. All of them use a blue background with the Union Flag and their own state symbol. When flown with other Australian flags, it is usually placed sixth in line. This order matches its position on the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.
Contents
What the Flag Looks Like
The flag of Western Australia is a type of flag known as a Blue Ensign. This means it has a dark blue background. In the top left corner, closest to the flagpole, is the Union Flag. This part shows Australia's historical connection to the United Kingdom.
On the right side of the flag, away from the flagpole, is the State Badge. This badge is a yellow circle with a black swan in the middle. The black swan is a very important symbol for Western Australia. It is the state's official bird. On the current flag, the swan faces towards the flagpole, which is called the hoist.
History of the Flag
The first flag for Western Australia was created in 1870. At that time, Western Australia was still a British colony. This first flag looked almost exactly like the flag used today. The only difference was the direction the black swan was facing. On the old flag, the swan faced away from the flagpole.
Why the Swan Changed Direction
In 1953, the flag was updated. The main reason for this change was to make the black swan face the other way. This was done to follow a special rule in flag design, known as vexillological convention. This rule says that any animal shown on a flag should face towards the flagpole (the hoist). This way, when the flag is carried on a pole, the animal looks like it is moving forward with the person carrying it.
Images for kids
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Flag of the Western Australia Fire and Rescue Service
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Standard of the Governor of Western Australia
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Standard of the Governor 1953-1988
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Standard of the Governor 1870-1953
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Flag of the "Dominion of Westralia", a movement in the 1920s-1930s that wanted Western Australia to become a separate country.
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- Western Australia at Flags of the World
