National Colonial Flag for Australia facts for kids
The National Colonial Flag for Australia was an early flag design for Australia. It was created around 1823 or 1824. This flag was special because it was one of the first to show the Southern Cross stars and the Union Flag together. These symbols are still important in Australian flags today.
Australia's First Flag Design
This flag was the first known attempt to design a unique national flag for Australia. It was designed by two people living in New South Wales: Captain John Bingle and Captain John Nicholson. They were inspired by the White Ensign flag of the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy was like a protector for Australia from 1788 to 1913.
What the Flag Looked Like
The National Colonial Flag had a large red St George's Cross in the middle. Inside this cross, there were four white, eight-pointed stars. These stars represented the Southern Cross, a famous group of stars seen in the Southern Hemisphere.
Why This Flag Was Important
According to Captain Bingle, this flag was approved by the government of Sir Thomas Brisbane. Sir Thomas Brisbane was the Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825. The National Colonial Flag was the very first flag made specifically to represent Australia.
Captain John Bingle later wrote about the flag in 1881. He said that he helped Captain Nicholson plan this flag around 1823 or 1824. They wanted a "National Colonial Flag for Australia." He mentioned that their idea was approved. The flag used the British St George's Ensign but added four stars. These stars were placed in the four corners of the cross. They represented the Southern Cross, which was the symbol of their part of the world.
