National Museum of Australia - Australian flag imagery slideshow

Australian flag imagery slideshow

WARNING: Visitors should be aware that this website includes images and names of deceased people that may cause sadness or distress to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Australia's national flag was the Union Jack until it was officially replaced by the blue ensign. The ensign combines the Union Jack with the stars of the Southern Cross.

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Circular badge with 'Australia Day 1916' printed in a black circular band. The central image shows a kangaroo standing on a red ensign.

This badge, featuring the kangaroo and red ensign, was produced as a Red Cross wartime fundraiser to mark Australia Day on 26 January 1916. National Museum of Australia. Photo: Lannon Harley.

'Christmas greetings from the Australian War Contingent Association' postcard, 1916

Postcard with an image of a koala climbing a flag pole, with the Australian flag at the top. There is a sprig of holly and a spray of wattle at the base of the flag pole and the rays of the rising sun appear in the background. Text across the bottom reads 'Christmas greetings from the Australian War Contingent Association., London 1916.'

A koala climbs the flagpole for this 'Christmas greetings from the Australian War Contingent Association, London 1916,' postcard. Courtesy: State Library of Victoria.

'Make your money fight' poster, about 1916

A poster of a young woman, dressed in a cream-coloured off-the-shoulder dress, holding the Australian flag. A group of soldiers march past in the the background to her left. The text reads 'MAKE YOUR MONEY FIGHT. Buy WAR LOAN BONDS'.

Designed by EB Studios in Sydney, this poster from the First World War encourages Australians to buy war loan bonds. It combines imagery of the Australian flag with a female form and troops marching in formation. Courtesy: National Library of Australia, nla.pic-an7721270.

'Come on boys' poster, about 1916

A poster showing a soldier riding a horse. The soldier holds a flag in his right hand and a drawn sword in his left. The text reads 'COME ON BOYS. FOLLOW THE FLAG!'

'Follow the flag!' this recruitment poster from James Northfield cries, as a soldier on horseback rides with the Union Jack. Courtesy of the James Northfield Heritage Art Trust. National Library of Australia, nla.pic-an7721244.

Australia Day badge, 1918

Circular badge with an olive-coloured border with the words 'Australia Day 1918' printed in white. The central image shows a kookaburra sitting on an Australian flag, surrounded by yellow wattle blossoms and red trumpet-like flowers.

This commemorative badge produced by the Red Cross incorporates the Australian flag, wattle and the kookaburra. National Museum of Australia. Photo: Lannon Harley.

'Women! Help Australia's sons to win the war' poster, about 1918

A coloured picture featuring a woman in the foreground and an Australian flag in the background. The woman has her arms outstretched to the front. The text reads 'WOMEN! HELP AUSTRALIA'S SONS WIN THE WAR. BUY WAR LOAN BONDS'.

The Australian flag forms a backdrop to this patriotic poster from John Sands which implores Australian women to buy war bonds. Courtesy: Australian War Memorial, negative no. ARTV05621.

Australian flag imagery slideshow

Australian flag imagery slideshow

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Australia Day badge, 1916

'Christmas greetings from the Australian War Contingent Association' postcard, 1916

'Make your money fight' poster, about 1916

'Come on boys' poster, about 1916

Australia Day badge, 1918

'Women! Help Australia's sons to win the war' poster, about 1918