Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags

Aboriginal Flag

The Aboriginal flag was created as a symbol of unity and national identity for Aboriginal people during the land rights movement of the early 1970s.

The flag was designed by Harold Thomas, a Luritja man of Central Australia, and was first flown on National Aboriginal Day in Adelaide in 1971. In 1972, the flag became the official flag for the Aboriginal Embassy in front of Parliament House in Canberra. In 1995, the Aboriginal Flag was recognised by the Australian Government as an official 'Flag of Australia' under the Flags Act 1953.

Symbolic meaning The flag consists of a colored rectangle divided in half horizontally, the upper half black and lower red. A yellow circle sits at the centre of the rectangle. The colors represent the Aboriginal people of Australia, the red ochre color of earth and a spiritual relation to the land and the sun, the giver of life and protector.

Torres Strait Islander Flag

The Torres Strait Islander flag was designed by the late Bernard Namok from Thursday Island in January 1992. The flag was officially recognised by the Australian Government as an official 'Flag of Australia' under the Flags Act 1953.

Symbolic meaning The flag consists of horizontal bands: two green and one blue, separated by black lines; a Dhari which is a distinctive traditional dance and ceremonial headdress; and a five-pointed star are central motifs of the flag. Each part of the flag gives meaning to the Torres Strait Island culture:

 Green: represent the mainlands of Australia and Papua New Guinea.  Blue: the blue is the Torres Strait Island waters.  Black: represent the people of the Torres Strait.  Central symbol: the Dhari or headdress.  Five pointed star: represents the five major Island groups of the Torres Strait as well as sea-faring navigation.  White: represents peace.