17 Facts About Australian flag

Australian flag uses three prominent symbols: the Southern Cross, the Union Jack and the Commonwealth Star.

Union Flag is thought to symbolise Australia's history as six British colonies and the principles upon which the Australian Federation is based, although a more historic view sees its inclusion in the design as demonstrating loyalty to the British Empire.

Ivor Evans, one of the Australian flag's designers, intended the Southern Cross to refer to the four moral virtues ascribed to the four main stars by Dante: justice, prudence, temperance and fortitude.

Red colour in the ensign part of the Australian flag is actually a shade lighter than the British flag from which it originated.

The Australian flag must be flown in all government buildings and displayed in polling stations when there is a national election or referendum.

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The British Blue Ensign can be flown on an Australian owned ship instead of the Australian Flag if the owner has a warrant valid under British law.

The Australian flag is not to be placed or dropped on the ground, nor should it be used to cover an object in the lead-up to an unveiling ceremony, or to hide other material.

In 2002, the leader of the National Party, John Anderson, proposed to introduce laws banning desecration of the Australian flag, a call that attracted support from some parliamentarians both in his own party and the senior Coalition partner, the Liberal Party.

The oldest known Australian flag to show the stars arranged as they are seen in the sky is the Anti-Transportation League Flag, which is similar in design to the present National Flag.

The differences to the current Australian flag were the six-pointed Commonwealth Star, while the components stars in the Southern Cross had different numbers of points, with more if the real star was brighter.

On 3 September 1901, the new Australian flag flew for the first time from the dome of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne.

Royal Australian Navy was promulgated on 5 October 1911 and was directed to fly the British White Ensign on the stern and the flag of Australia on the Jackstaff.

The Australian flag has a special headband, including a cardinal red stripe and the inscription.

Warrant authorising the use of the Centenary Flag under section 6 of the Flags Act was issued by the Governor-General and the Australian flag is used as the official Australian flag of state on important occasions.

The Australian flag has been transported across the country for flying in every state and territory.

The Australian Army has no ensign of its own, but they are given the ceremonial task to be the defender of the National Flag.

Queen's Personal Australian Flag was approved by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 20 September 1962, and was only flown only when she visited Australia, most recently in 2011.