The current state flag of New South Wales was officially adopted in 1876. The flag is based on the defaced British Blue Ensign with the state badge located in the fly. The badge, based on the coat of arms, is a white disc with the cross of St George, a golden lion passant guardant in the centre of the cross and an eight-pointed gold star on each arm of the cross.
As a variant of the Blue Ensign, the Union Jack is displayed in the canton. The St George's Cross, the Southern Cross and the 'Lion in the South' are displayed in the Badge of New South Wales on the flag. The St George's Cross is used on the ensign of the British Royal Navy, with a golden, 8-pointed star placed on each arm of the cross. This symbolises the maritime origins of New South Wales, with seafarers relying upon the Southern Cross to navigate the seas, and the role of the navy in protecting the State.[1]
The 'Lion in the South' is taken from the three golden lions on a red field on the arms of England, and symbolises both the sovereignty of New South Wales and the offspring of an old country. It represent the origins of the founders of the Colony of New South Wales as well as the independence of their succeeding generations.[2]
The first flag of New South Wales was adopted in 1867. It too was a defaced British Blue Ensign with the letters "NSW" in white located in the fly.[citation needed] The flag was a response to the passing of the British Colonial Naval Defence Act 1865 which allowed any British colony its own warships and variant of the Blue Ensign.[3]
New South Wales then adopted a second flag in 1870 and it was almost identical to that of Victoria (with gold stars; 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 points). This flag was also a defaced British Blue Ensign with the "Governor's Badge" located in the fly. The badge was the Southern Cross and an imperial crown situated above the Southern Cross. The difference between this flag and that of the Victorian flag was that the stars were gold and ranged from five to nine points with each star having one point pointing to the bottom of the flag.[citation needed]
Unlike the national flag, the flag of New South Wales is not enshrined and protected by any acts of state or Commonwealth government. As a result, there are no official legal requirements for the construction of the flag of New South Wales.[citation needed] However, tradition and decorum dictate that:[citation needed]
[4]the Union Jack should occupy the upper quarter next the staff.
the fly is to be wholly blue, in line with the British Blue Ensign.
the State Badge is to be situated with its centre halfway between the edge of the canton and the end of the fly, and a third of the distance from the bottom of the flag.
In the mid-1990s, a series of proposals to redesign the New South Wales state flag emerged, gaining significant public attention in the lead-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The initiative, originally promoted by the Sydney Morning Herald in November 1995,[5] aimed to address the perceived disconnect between the existing flag and the state's identity. Critics of the current design argued that its colonial origins and British-centric symbols—such as the Union Jack and the Red Cross of St. George—failed to resonate with modern New South Wales' cultural identity and heritage[5].
In November 1996, two alternative flag designs were unveiled and displayed prominently to gauge public interest. Both designs incorporated elements reflecting New South Wales' unique identity:
[6]Design 1: "The first of the alternative deigns is inspired by the Canadian flag, with sky blue vertical bars at each end and a prominent waratah against a white background in the center."[5]
Design 2: "The second incorporates the Southern Cross on a navy blue background on the first third of the flag and a stylized waratah within a white circle against a sky blue background on the remaining two-thirds."[5]
Both designs emphasized simplicity and visual recognition, with the symbols and colors explicitly tied to New South Wales' identity.
Advocates of the redesign included former premiers, political leaders from both Liberal and Labor parties, the Lord Mayor of Sydney, and notable sports figures. Supporters argued that a new flag would better reflect the state's evolving cultural and social identity, particularly as Sydney prepared to host the Olympics—a global showcase of the state's heritage.[7]
However, the proposals also faced criticism. Traditionalists expressed concern that altering the flag might undermine historical continuity, while others feared it signaled an imminent move towards republicanism.[7] A 1995 Herald AGB-McNair poll revealed that only 12% of New South Wales residents could accurately describe the existing flag, highlighting a potential lack of public attachment to its symbols.[5]
In response to the debate, proponents suggested introducing legislation to authorize a public referendum on the flag redesign, potentially aligning the vote with the 1999 state election. This timeline would allow for extensive public discussion before a new flag could be adopted ahead of the 2000 Olympics.[5] Despite the momentum, the proposal ultimately did not progress beyond the discussion phase.
^Gullick, William Applegate, The New South Wales Coat of Arms, with notes on the earlier seals, Government Printer, Sydney 1907
^Gullick, William Applegate, The New South Wales Coat of Arms, with notes on the earlier seals, Government Printer, Sydney 1907
^ abNew South Wales Government (2007). "New South Wales Flag". Flags and Emblems. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^"New-wave design for State flag run up the pole". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 November 1996. p. 5. {{cite news}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
^ abcdef"New-wave design for State flag run up the pole". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 November 1996. p. 5. {{cite news}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
^ ab"Flagging [This is the page title; the title of the entire publication remains unknown to me as I write this]". Sydney Morning Herald. 23 November, 1966. p. 44. {{cite news}}: |archive-url= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= and |archive-date= (help); External link in |archive-date= (help)
Standard of the governor of New South Wales 1870–1876
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