This is a list of flags of different designs that have been used in Australia. The position of the flag on the official order of precedence is indicated, with other national flags having a precedence of "2". When multiple flags are flown together in a line, flags should be flown in order of precedence from left to right.
Flags under copyright are not displayed here, instead having placeholder images that link to the flags.
National flag Flag Date Use Description Precedence 1908–present Australian national flag, naval jack and state ensign A Blue Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half. The Centenary Flag, the nation's flag of state used on ceremonial occasions, additionally includes a white headband with a red stripe.
State and territory flags Flag Date Use Description Precedence 1876–present Flag of New South Wales A St George's Cross with four gold stars and a lion in the fly of a British Blue Ensign. 1877–present Flag of Victoria The Southern Cross surmounted by a crown in the fly of a British Blue Ensign. 1876–present Flag of Queensland A light blue Maltese cross with a crown on a white background in the fly of a British Blue Ensign. 1904–present Flag of South Australia A piping shrike on a gold background in the fly of a British Blue Ensign. 1953–present Flag of Western Australia A black swan on a gold background in the fly of a British Blue Ensign. 1876–present Flag of Tasmania A red lion on a white background in the fly of a British Blue Ensign. 1993–present Flag of the Australian Capital Territory Vertical bicolour; one third blue with the Southern Cross, the other two thirds are yellow with the coat of arms of Canberra. 1978–present Flag of the Northern Territory Vertical bicolour; one third black with the Southern Cross, the other two thirds are ochre with Sturt's desert rose, the floral emblem of the Territory. 1980–present Flag of Norfolk Island A vertical triband of green, white, and green, with a green Norfolk Island pine in the white band.
Unofficial territory flags Flag Date Use Description 1986–present Flag of Christmas Island The blue and green diagonal panels represent the sea and the island's vegetation; a small map of the island is included in the centre. The main emblem is a golden bosun bird. The flag was selected from a competition held in 1986. Link to flag 2004–present Flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands A green field with symbols such as a palm tree on a gold disc, which represents the islands' tropical flora; a crescent, which represent the Muslim Cocos Malays; and the Southern Cross, which represent Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. The flag mostly uses the national colours of Australia.
Nationally proclaimed flags of Indigenous peoples Flag Date Use Description Precedence 1971–present Australian Aboriginal flag A black and red flag with a yellow circle in the middle. The flag was designed in 1971 by Harold Thomas. Link to flag 1992–present Torres Strait Islander flag A five-pointed star and traditional headdress in white, on a blue, green and black background. It was designed in 1992 by Bernard Namok.
Proclaimed Australian Defence Force flags
Flag Date Use Description Precedence 2000–present Australian Defence Force Ensign A tricolour of dark blue (navy); red (army) and light blue (airforce) with the triservice badge. 1967–present Australian White Ensign A version of the national flag with a white field defaced with a blue Commonwealth Star in the lower canton quarter and a blue Southern Cross in the fly. 1982–present Royal Australian Air Force Ensign The national flag with an Air Force blue field, the Southern Cross tilted and the RAAF roundel (Kangaroo) placed in the lower fly.
Other official federal flags prescribed under the Flags Act 1953 Flag Date Use Description Precedence 1908–present Australian Red Ensign A Red Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half.
Royal and viceregal flags
Sovereign Flag Date Use Description Precedence 1962–2022 Personal Australian Flag of Queen Elizabeth II Consists of a banner of the coat of arms of Australia, defaced with a gold seven-pointed federation star with a blue disc containing the letter E below a crown, surrounded by a garland of golden roses. Where practical, it should be flown alone when flown on or outside a building occupied by the monarch. Also flown on vehicles carrying the monarch. 2024–present King's Flag for Australia Consists of a banner of the coat of arms of Australia.
Governor-General Flag Date Use Description Precedence 1909–1936 Flag of the Governor-General of Australia 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. Flown continuously when the governor-general is in residence and on vehicles carrying the governor-general. 1936–present Flag of the Governor-General of Australia A crowned lion standing on a crown on a blue field. The crown used is the Tudor Crown.
State governors
Flag Date Use Description Precedence 1981–present Standard of the governor of New South Wales The state flag with a crowned badge.Flown continuously when the governor is in residence, at events the governor attends and on vehicles carrying the governor. 1984–present Standard of the governor of Victoria The state flag with a yellow field and crowned southern cross. 1876–present Standard of the governor of Queensland The Union Flag defaced with the state badge. 1975–present Standard of the governor of South Australia The state flag with a crowned badge. St Edward's Crown was replaced with the Tudor Crown in 2024. 1988–present Standard of the governor of Western Australia The state flag with a crowned badge. 1977–present Standard of the governor of Tasmania
Local flags Flag Date Use Description 1982–present Armorial flag of the City of Adelaide Blue background divided into four quarters by a Saint George's Cross outlined in gold overlain with the Arms of the City of Adelaide. Flag bordered on three sides by diagonal blue and gold stripes. Flag of the local government area of Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara The logo of Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara on a red field. 1947–present Flag of the City of Brisbane Blue background (representing the Brisbane River) bordered by a golden checker pattern (representing the Sun and Brisbane's warm climate) with the flag divided into six quarters. The upper hoist quarter contains a golden caducei superimposed on wavy white lines, representing the Brisbane River and its ties to the city's commerce. The lower hoist quarter contains two Stafford knots and a white star arranged vertically (all represent the achievements in astronomy of Sir Thomas Brisbane, for whom the city is named). The remaining segments alternate between these two designs. The flag design is based on the shield on the coat of arms of Brisbane. 2009–present Flag of the City of Darwin According to council policy, Darwin maintains both the coat of arms flag and a logo flag. Flag of the City of Hobart The flag of Hobart City Council, of Tasmania, Australia. Designed in 1951 by Hobart architect and alderman, I.G. Anderson and first flown in 1953.
The star is derived from the arms of Lord Hobart, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire (1760–1816), Secretary of State for War and the Colonies at the time of colonial settlement (1804), and after whom Hobart is named. The colour used on the arms Lord Hobart was, in fact, sable (black), rather than blue.
The red lion is from the Tasmanian flag – and its location at the top of the shield signifies Hobart's position as the Capital City. Flag of the City of Melbourne White background divided into four quarters by a Saint George's Cross outlined by a concise and overlain with St Edward's Crown. Quadrant features represent the main activities of the economy of the City of Melbourne in the mid-19th century and are, in a clockwise direction from top left, a fleece hanging from a red ring (wool), a black bull standing on a hillock (cattle), a three-mast ship in full sail (shipping), and a spouting whale in the sea (whaling). The flag design is identical to the shield on the coat of arms of Melbourne. 1949–present Flag of the City of Perth Saint George's Cross overlaid with the City of Perth coat of arms in the centre. 1908–present Flag of the City of Sydney The flag is a horizontal triband, with middle and lower bands of gold and blue. The top third features three designs. In the top hoist the arms belong to Thomas Townshend, Viscount Sydney, after whom the city was named. The English Naval Flag in the centre acknowledges the role Arthur Philip played in Sydney's foundation. The red cross is overlaid with a globe and two stars – the principal features of James Cook's Arms, which were granted as a posthumous honour for his service in mapping Australia. The arms in the top fly belong to the first Lord Mayor of Sydney, Thomas Hughes. It was during his term of office that the title of Mayor became Lord Mayor, and the official coat of arms for the city was granted. The remaining field of the flag features a ship under full sail, an allusion to the prominence of Sydney as a maritime port. circa 1960–2008 Flag of the City of Toowoomba The flag of Toowoomba city is a violet coloured ensign which makes reference to the city's floral emblem of the day, the Toowoomba Violet (aka the sweet violet, Lat. 'Viola odorata').
Notable is the city's coat of arms in the centre of the ensign and the city's name along the hoist of the flag, lettered from top to bottom. 2008–present Flag of Toowoomba A new Toowoomba flag was created in 2007 and became the official flag of the Toowoomba Region on 15 March 2008 with the amalgamation of eight councils; the councils were Clifton Shire, Crows Nest Shire, Cambooya Shire, Jondaryan Shire, Millmerran Shire, Pittsworth Shire, Rosalie Shire and Toowoomba City.