SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 — Australians across the country marked National Flag Day yesterday, a commemoration of the first time the Australian National Flag was flown on 3 September, 1901, above Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building, according to a government press release.
Flag-raising ceremonies are being held at schools, government buildings, and local communities, with many households and businesses encouraged to proudly display the national flag.
Each year, the Australian National Flag flies alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on significant national occasions, including Australia Day, to recognize the nation’s shared identity and values.
Prime Minister Sir Edmund Barton announced the winning design of the national flag in 1901 following a competition that drew almost 33,000 entries from across the colonies. Known then as the Commonwealth blue ensign, it was formally recognized as the Australian National Flag in 1953.
One of the most visible symbols of national pride remains the massive flag atop Parliament House in Canberra, measuring 12.8 by 6.4 metres — about the size of a double-decker bus.
In 2022, the federal government introduced updated educational resources, including revised editions of the Australian Flags and Australian Symbols booklets, aimed at strengthening awareness of national symbols.
However, yesterday’s commemorations also come amid a wider conversation about the flag’s use in public life, according to reporting from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
In recent weeks, some protesters have controversially displayed the flag at anti-immigration rallies, sparking concerns about its symbolism being “weaponized.” Community leaders and historians have warned against allowing Australia’s foremost national symbol, intended to unite, to become a source of division.
For many Australians, particularly migrants, the flag carries personal significance, appearing prominently at citizenship ceremonies and representing values of freedom, mutual respect and opportunity.
