Colors and the Meaning of the Australia Flag
One of today’s youngest countries, Australia’s flag, dates back to 1901, the country’s founding year.
In Australia, the first day of 1901, a nationwide contest was held to reach this flag design in Australia, which became definite to leave the British Empire.
The British Empire flag (Union Jack) and the Southern Cross were announced as a prerequisite, and the prize was only 25 Australian Pounds.
The competition lasted longer than expected, and the new Australian Flag was selected in April 1901.
An interesting detail in this contest is that the same design was sent by four different people who were unaware of the competition, and one of these winners is a 14-year-old boy.
History of the Australia Flag
On May 4, 1606, Pedro Fernandes de Queirós discovered Vanuatu, claiming all land ownership in the South Pole belonged to the Kingdom of Spain and called the continent Austrialía del Espíritu Santo.
The Dutch word Australische was used by the Dutch in Batavia to name new sites discovered in the south before 1638. The first use of the Australia word was seen in 1693 in the translation of the novel Les Aventures de Jacques Sadeur dance Découverte et le Voyage de la Terre Australe written by Gabriel de Foigny.
Later, in 1765, Alexander Dalrymple used the word when Luis Váez de Torres translated the book in 1606 on his trip to New Guinea’s southern shore. Dalrymple also used the Australian word, the Southern Pacific Ocean (1771) to describe the entire Oceania region in the book “An Historical Collection of Voyages and Discoveries“.
In 1793, George Shaw and Sir James Smith published Zoology and Botany of New Holland book where there were definitions of a large island, a large continent, Australia, Australasia and New Holland.
The Australian word has become popular with the work of explorer Matthew Flinders’ A Voyage to Terra Australis (1814), the first human to travel around the continent.
Current Flag
The Australian flag was selected as a result of an international competition in 1901, after Australia became a federation among the country flags.
The design of the flag was approved by the British and Australian governments. He got his present form in 1934, and in 1954 he was legally recognized as the Australian flag.
The flag is based on a blue background. The top corner is the United Kingdom flag, and there are 5 seven-pointed stars, one of which is larger than the others, and one 5-pointed (the smallest) star.
The reason why the flag of the United Kingdom in the top-left corner of the flag is that Australia is a British colony.
Neighboring Countries of Australia
Australia is a country in the Southern Hemisphere. It stretches between the Indian and the Great Ocean.
It is located on the continent of Oceania and occupies a large part of the continent.
Neighbors are Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and New Zealand.
Also See: States and Territories of Australia Map
Main Characteristics of Australia
Canberra, the capital of Australia, is an island country, located in the Southern Hemisphere.
In Australia, the 6th largest country in the world, the official language is English. The Australian dollar is also used as currency. Australia ranks 5th as of the richest countries in the world according to per-capita income, and ranks second in terms of quality of life.
In most parts of Australia, the temperate climate is dominant. In the rest of the continent, a tropical climate prevails. Australia’s immigrant structure, which has come from almost every part of the world, has influenced the local cuisine of the country.
Australian Cuisine
It has an evolving culinary culture because it is Australian fondness for quality food. It is easy to get weight in Australia, but it is easier to eat healthy food.
Many meals are made from natural food ingredients. Australians enjoy the taste of good steak, lamb, delicious and fresh seafood, especially shellfish, great fruits and vegetables.
| Country | Australia |
| Code | AU (AUS) |
| Calling code | 61 |
| Capital city | Canberra |
| Currency | australian dollar (AUD) |
| Emoji symbol | 🇦🇺 |
| Highest point | Mawson Peak (2,745 m) |
| Internet TLD | .au |
| Population(2017) | 24,450,561 |
| Total area | 7,741,220 km2 |