Australia
Shape
Oceania · Australia and New Zealand
Outline not to scale
About the flag
Australia's flag is dark blue with the Union Jack in the top corner by the flagpole, a reminder of its history with Britain. Below the Union Jack is the large seven-pointed Commonwealth Star, one point for each of the six states and one for the territories. On the right is the Southern Cross: four large seven-pointed white stars and one small five-pointed star. The design was chosen in a public competition in 1901, the year Australia federated.
Often confused with
New Zealand's stars are red with white borders and there are only four. White stars, including the big one under the Union Jack, mean Australia.
Only the names are similar: Austria is a small country in Central Europe with a red, white and red striped flag.