Flag of the governor-general of Australia
{{Short description|Flag of the vice-regal representative of Australia}}{{Infobox flag
| Name = Governor-General’s Flag
| Image = Flag of the Governor-General of Australia.svg
| Alt =
| Use = 000000
| Symbol = {{FIAV|000000}}
| Proportion = 1:2
| Adoption = {{Start date and age|2024|07|01|df=yes}}
| Design = The Royal Crest, comprising a Tudor Crown surmounted by a crowned lion, above a golden scroll inscribed with “The Commonwealth of Australia”
| Image2 = Flag of the Governor-General of Australia (1953–2024).svg
| Alt2 = Governor-General’s Flag (1953-2024)
| Imagetext2 = The governor-general’s flag during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, featuring St Edward’s Crown
| Use2 = 000000
| Symbol2 = {{FIAV|000000}}{{FIAV|historical}}
| Proportion2 = 1:2
| Adoption2 = 1953
| Relinquished2 = 2024
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}}
The flag of the governor-general of Australia is an official flag of Australia and is flown continuously on buildings and other locations when the governor-general of Australia is present.{{cite web |url=https://www.flagsaustralia.com.au/NationalFlag.html |title=Governor-General's flag|author= |date=2016 |website=Australian Flag Society |access-date=10 April 2017}}
History
File:2006-2009 Holden WM Caprice sedan - Governor-General of Australia.jpg
The flag has existed as three versions, the original flag used between 1902 and 1909 being a Union Flag defaced with a six pointed star, crowned, surrounded by ears of corn and a gold circlet. In 1909, following the addition of a seventh point to the Commonwealth Star on the Australian Blue and Red Ensigns, the star was changed to a seven-pointed star.{{cite web |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-139314294/view |title=Flag for the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia car flagpole and car badge, 1931|author= |website=National Library of Australia |access-date=10 April 2017}}
On 16 July 1936, the governor-general adopted a new flag for official use in Australia. The flag had a 1:2 ratio, it had a royal blue background and in the centre of the flag there is a Royal Crest (a crowned lion standing on a Tudor Crown) and the words "COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA" in dark blue letters on a gold scroll below the Crest. A similar design is used in most other Commonwealth realms.{{Cite web |date=16 July 1936 |title=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette |url=https://www.prod.legislation.gov.au/files/gazettes/historic/1936/1936GN56.pdf |series=No. 56 |page=1297}}
In 1953 the flag was modified again, replacing the Tudor Crown with St Edward's Crown.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024|reason=Need a source for the date of the change.}} The flag was otherwise identical to that introduced in 1936. The 1936 version of the flag was again adopted on 1 July 2024 after the installation of Governor-General Samantha Mostyn.{{cite web |title=Australian Flags |date=14 July 2022 |url=https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/australian-flags-booklet/part-3-other-official-flags-australia/royal-and-vice-regal-flags |access-date=30 October 2024 |publisher=Australian Government: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet}} See section "Royal and Vice-Regal flags": updated in 2024, although (as of 30 October 2024) not the booklet itself.
Usage
The flag is flown continuously wherever the governor-general is in residence and is also used as a car flag.
Historical versions
| class="wikitable" |
| scope="col" style="width:150px;"| Flag
! scope="col" style="width:100px;"| Date ! scope="col" style="width:500px;"| Description |
|---|
| File:Flag of the Governor General of Australia (1902-1909).svg
| 1902–1909 | A Union Flag defaced with a six pointed star, crowned, surrounded by ears of corn and a gold circlet. The crown used is the Tudor Crown. |
| File:Flag of the Governor General of Australia (1909-1936).svg
| 1909–1936 | A Union Flag defaced with a seven pointed star, crowned, surrounded by ears of corn and a gold circlet. The crown used is the Tudor Crown. |
| File:Flag of the Governor-General of Australia.svg
| 1936–1953 | A lion statant guardant surmounted on the Tudor Crown on a blue field. |
| File:Flag of the Governor-General of Australia (1953–2024).svg
| 1953–2024 | A lion statant guardant surmounted upon St Edward's Crown on a blue field. |
| File:Flag of the Governor-General of Australia.svg
|2024–present |Reverted back to a lion statant guardant surmounted on the Tudor Crown on a blue field. |
See also
{{Portal|Australia|Heraldry}}
References
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
- {{cite book |last=Kwan |first=Elizabeth |date=1 May 2006 |title=Flag and Nation: Australians and their National Flag Since 1901 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=el_JAgAAQBAJ |location=Sydney |publisher=University of New South Wales Press |page=86 |isbn=978-1-7422-4687-1}}
External links
- {{FOTW|id=au-gg|title=Governor-General - Australia}}
{{Australian Flags}}
{{Flags, Banners and Standards of Heads of State and Government}}
Category:Governors-general of Australia