What is the Aboriginal flag?
The Aboriginal flag is a symbol of Aboriginal Australians, designed by Luritja artist Harold Thomas in 1971. It has a black upper half, a red lower half and a yellow circle in the center.
The black represents Aboriginal people, the red represents the earth and the spiritual relationship to the land, and the yellow circle represents the sun, the giver of life.
The flag was first flown in Adelaide in 1971, on National Aborigines Day. It became widely known after it was used at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972.
Official status
In 1995, the Australian government proclaimed the Aboriginal flag an official flag of Australia under the Flags Act. It is flown at government buildings, schools and events.
For many years, its use was restricted by copyright held by Harold Thomas and licensing arrangements. In 2022, the Commonwealth government reached an agreement with Thomas to transfer copyright, allowing everyone to use the flag freely.
Cathy Freeman famously carried the Aboriginal and Australian flags after winning gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games and the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Did You Know?
The Aboriginal flag is often flown alongside the Australian and Torres Strait Islander flags.