Workshop Australian Flag

[Silent Alarm]

Can we just get rid of the southern cross? It'd make all those bogan tattoos redundant.

 

[Stewart2Austin Reborn]

Can we just get rid of the southern cross? It'd make all those bogan tattoos redundant.

Speaking of redundancy, I already made that joke on page 2.

 

[Red Crow]

I know this topic kinda died, but I saw it a few weeks ago and it had inspired me to create something myself, and it has just taken me this long to actually put it all together and post. Upon opening the thread tonight, I saw the link to the designs by GAZF and realised mine were very similar, but I'll post them anyway.

My concept was a set of flags to represent the country today. A new national flag, and new state/territory flags to compliment them. This could be extended to the naval, air force, etc as well but I haven't gone that far as yet.


National Flag:

For the New Australian flag, the white southern cross on a blue background is maintained, while the federation star is now gold on a green background. This maintains history with the previous flag through both colour and design elements, while adding the national colours in a prominent way. The federation star is the "centrepiece" of the flag, representing all states and territories. The southern cross is a recognised symbol of Australia and so should remain on the flag.

For the state flags, the left third featuring the white southern cross on blue background is maintained throughout. This creates continuity and makes it instantly recognisable as a flag of Australia. The remaining two thirds feature a state emblem in place of the federation star and state colours as a background. The flags of NT and ACT are similar to their current versions, but altered just slightly to keep in line with the states.

Victoria:

New South Wales:

Queensland:

South Australia:

Western Australia:

Tasmania:

Northern Territory:

Australian Capital Territory:

 

[Harmichael]

I don't really care if the Union Jack stays on the state flags - hell it's still on the Hawaiian state flag. Just get the thing off the national flag.

 

[Quokka]

On the day we become a republic remove the union jack, job done.

Actually let's join Nepal and co and dump the rectangle while we're at it.


Even if the commonwelth star would be hard to see at a distance Alzy11's original white, green and gold design is still the best alternative I've seen yet.

 

[SFgiant]

 

[Mowse]

Those are nicely done designs SFGiant, but all the kangaroo flags I've seen just make me think of qantas.
It is often forgotten that flags are draped over the coffins of soldiers who have died for their country (and other dignitaries), for that reason I don't think cartoon animals are appropriate (no matter how well they are drawn).

This design has been proposed a few times:

It is simple, elegant, respectful. The SC and blue background are exactly the same as current flag.
It is not symbolic of any specific religion or race. but rather it symbolises the sky we all stand under TOGETHER.
It is not a redesign. It is simply removing the redundant elements: Brittan does NOT rule over us. The commonwealth star is already contained within the southern cross.

One last issue: Why does the star have only seven points? Australia has EIGHT states and territories. To imply that any Australian is only worth HALF AS MUCH as any other Australian is offensive and pointless. Please let me know if eight pointed stars are not allowed on flags for some obscure reason.

 

[Teen Wolf]

This design has been proposed a few times:

It is simple, elegant, respectful. The SC and blue background are exactly the same as current flag.
It is not symbolic of any specific religion or race. but rather it symbolises the sky we all stand under TOGETHER.
It is not a redesign. It is simply removing the redundant elements: Brittan does NOT rule over us. The commonwealth star is already contained within the southern cross.

One last issue: Why does the star have only seven points? Australia has EIGHT states and territories. To imply that any Australian is only worth HALF AS MUCH as any other Australian is offensive and pointless. Please let me know if eight pointed stars are not allowed on flags for some obscure reason.

One point for each state, and one point to represent all the territories.

I like that flag though, Mowse. If/when the change happens, I'm quite sure it'll be along those lines--nothing dramatically different, just sufficient adjustments.

 

[Mowse]

Ah. my bad. thought they just stood for ACT and NT.

We have TEN territories! see if you can guess them all without wikki

With that in mind leave the star with seven points. 16 pointed star might be a bit much.

 

[Mr Eagle]

The first version of the current flag had a six-pointed federation star, which was later amended to acknowledge the various territories. Personally, I'm not offended that Canberra has to share its point

We have TEN territories! see if you can guess them all without wikki

ACT
NT
Norfolk Island
Christmas Island
Jervis Bay
Heard & MacDonald Islands
Aust Antarctic Territory
ummmm...

dammit I used to know these!!!

 

[lmach]

The first version of the current flag had a six-pointed federation star, which was later amended to acknowledge the various territories. Personally, I'm not offended that Canberra has to share its point



ACT
NT
Norfolk Island
Christmas Island
Jervis Bay
Heard & MacDonald Islands
Aust Antarctic Territory
ummmm...

dammit I used to know these!!!

Cocos Islands
Coral Sea Islands
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

 

[The Goon]

Did these a while ago now.

 

[Groupie_]

Those are nicely done designs SFGiant, but all the kangaroo flags I've seen just make me think of qantas.
It is often forgotten that flags are draped over the coffins of soldiers who have died for their country (and other dignitaries), for that reason I don't think cartoon animals are appropriate (no matter how well they are drawn).

This design has been proposed a few times:

It is simple, elegant, respectful. The SC and blue background are exactly the same as current flag.
It is not symbolic of any specific religion or race. but rather it symbolises the sky we all stand under TOGETHER.
It is not a redesign. It is simply removing the redundant elements: Brittan does NOT rule over us. The commonwealth star is already contained within the southern cross.

One last issue: Why does the star have only seven points? Australia has EIGHT states and territories. To imply that any Australian is only worth HALF AS MUCH as any other Australian is offensive and pointless. Please let me know if eight pointed stars are not allowed on flags for some obscure reason.

That is the perfect flag for us imo

 

[PumpyChowdown]

I know this topic kinda died, but I saw it a few weeks ago and it had inspired me to create something myself, and it has just taken me this long to actually put it all together and post. Upon opening the thread tonight, I saw the link to the designs by GAZF and realised mine were very similar, but I'll post them anyway.

My concept was a set of flags to represent the country today. A new national flag, and new state/territory flags to compliment them. This could be extended to the naval, air force, etc as well but I haven't gone that far as yet.


National Flag:

For the New Australian flag, the white southern cross on a blue background is maintained, while the federation star is now gold on a green background. This maintains history with the previous flag through both colour and design elements, while adding the national colours in a prominent way. The federation star is the "centrepiece" of the flag, representing all states and territories. The southern cross is a recognised symbol of Australia and so should remain on the flag.

For the state flags, the left third featuring the white southern cross on blue background is maintained throughout. This creates continuity and makes it instantly recognisable as a flag of Australia. The remaining two thirds feature a state emblem in place of the federation star and state colours as a background. The flags of NT and ACT are similar to their current versions, but altered just slightly to keep in line with the states.

Victoria:

New South Wales:

Queensland:

South Australia:

Western Australia:

Tasmania:

Northern Territory:

Australian Capital Territory:

These are all brilliant. Unique, simple and distinctive.

 

[Andonis1997]

Love it. Absolutely love it

 

[chibimatty]

If we have to have a Union Jack, why don't we use the one which was used by those who founded the country and by descent also represents our political heritage; and not the one which represents another country (the UK) as it currently is.

 

[chibimatty]

Here's a range of other ideas with the Union Flag's removal, but keeping the flag with more or less the same design idea: (My favourite is the last one)

 

[Andonis1997]

If we have to have a Union Jack, why don't we use the one which was used by those who founded the country and by descent also represents our political heritage; and not the one which represents another country (the UK) as it currently is.

View attachment 11910

Did the Scots come over aswell?

 

[Silent Alarm]

I'm aboriginal. I don't need to see the aboriginal flag anywhere on the current flag to feel validated...

This country today has a history so varied that catering to every little group will give us something looking like the gay pride rainbow flag! Aboriginal history is important, and the actual nation of Australia is of British origin, sure, but today's mix is nothing like that, and won't be again...

So if we're going to get a new flag, it needs to stamp itself with something timeless and all-encompassing, which means no anachronistic Union Jack and no patronisingly token aboriginal flag stuck in the corner like a postage stamp. Also, it's a national flag, not a sporting flag, so no need to change to green and gold...

All of us, however, have one thing in common - our location. What we do with that location is up to us in the future. The Southern Cross has been there since before we were and will be there when we are extinct as a species (timeless - although astronomers will then argue about stellar drift, I guess...). While we're not the only country who can see it, we're the only one who bothers stamping it on everything we want to label as Australian - so it should be our flag.

Axe the Jack, rearrange the stars a bit, white stars on a deep blue night sky background. Perfect.

I do agree. Aboriginal heritage shouldn't be specified. A sign of respect and tolerance is indifference: indifference if someone is gay, Aboriginal, transgender, a scungy West Coast supporter. As you said, showcasing specific cultures isn't inclusive. Australia isn't Aboriginal Land with Anglo-Saxons, Baltics, Asians, Middle Eastern... it is Australia. The flag should be an inclusive item, a, ahem, banner for the entire country.

I still think the southern cross, while inoffensive, has some connotations that are genuinely embarrassing. Australia is a great country with a bevy of redeeming features. Racism and ignorance is a part of the makeup – the modern day bogan makeup – that's opposite to what you want to showcase. As creagus mentioned, do you want that on the coffin of a normal person who's died for his country?

But I dunno, it's not even that important. There are things way more cancerous and worrisome to the world and Australia than if we're in the commonwealth...

 

[Bryce_Jersey17]

Here's a range of other ideas with the Union Flag's removal, but keeping the flag with more or less the same design idea: (My favourite is the last one)

The problem with the second row designs is that its not simple. It was mentioned earlier that it should be something that an 11 year old can draw from memory. They couldnt...
Also the second an third rows are just replacing the Union flag with something else. If we were to change the flag, It'd be a complete change over...
But in the end, not a bad idea, and good execution

 

[chibimatty]

Did the Scots come over aswell?

That's the British Union Flag as it was at the time. "British" means all the peoples of the UK, Scots included.

 

[Andonis1997]

That's the British Union Flag as it was at the time. "British" means all the peoples of the UK, Scots included.

I know Scotland's part of the UK, but to be honest if they didn't come over, the St. Andrew's cross shouldn't be on there.

I'm pretty sure they did though, along with England and Ireland.

 

[chibimatty]

I know Scotland's part of the UK, but to be honest if they didn't come over, the St. Andrew's cross shouldn't be on there.

I'm pretty sure they did though, along with England and Ireland.

The BRITISH came to Australia, and this:

was the flag they raised at Sydney Cove. This version is the one used by Captain Cook and Captain Phillip, that's why I used it as a suggestion.

http://www.ausflag.com.au/Brief_History.asp
http://www.anbg.gov.au/oz/flag-union.html

 

[rabbitoh21]

Sorry for the mad BUUUUUUUMP but...


I'm looking at getting the last one printed

 

[Greater Gattsby]

True. lol you have Steve Smith

Hmmm, eating my words big time here