Today, the flag of the Commonwealth of Australia flies in commemoration of that nation’s flag day. The Red Ensign of New Zealand flies in commemoration of Merchant Navy Day.
The Australian flag is one of the most recognizable in the world. Quoting the Australian National Flag web page from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, “Upon federation in 1901, Australia’s first Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Sir Edmund Barton, announced an international competition to design a flag for the new Commonwealth of Australia. There were 32,823 entries, of which 5 nearly identical designs were awarded equal first.
The Australian Flag was flown for the first time on 3 September 1901, the day on which the then Prime Minister announced the 5 joint competition winners. It was flown over the dome of the Exhibition Building in Melbourne, which was the then seat of the federal government, where all the designs were on display. The Australian National Flag as we know it today is based on this design. In this original design, the stars of the Southern Cross had different numbers of points to signify their varying brightness.”
The Red Ensign of New Zealand flies in commemoration of Merchant Navy Day. Quoting the New Zealand Maritime Museum’s Merchant Day 2024 page, “This day is celebrated in Britain and other Commonwealth countries to commemorate those who served in the Merchant Navy during war time. The date chosen was 3rd September as this observes the sinking of the first British merchant ship in 1939, just hours after WWII was declared. 2024 marks the 85th anniversary.
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