Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags

The Aboriginal Flag

The flag is divided horizontally into equal halves of black (top) and red (bottom), with a yellow circle in the centre.

The black symbolises Aboriginal people, and the yellow is the sun. Red depicts the earth and also represents ochre, which is used by Aboriginal people in ceremonies.

The flag - designed by Harold Thomas – was first flown at Victoria Square, Adelaide, on National Aboriginal Day’ on 12 July 1971. It was later used at the tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972.

Today the flag has been adopted by all Aboriginal groups and is flown or displayed permanently at Aboriginal centres throughout Australia. Aboriginal Flag reproduced by permission of the author Harold Thomas ©1971

The Torres Strait Islander Flag

The Torres Strait Islander flag – designed by the late Bernard Namok of Thursday Island - stands for the unity and identity of all Torres Strait Islanders.

It features three horizontal coloured stripes, with green at the top and bottom and blue in between – divided by thin black lines.

A white dari (headdress) sits in the centre, with a five pointed star underneath it.

The colour green is for the land, and the dhari is a symbol for all Torres Strait Islander.

The black represents the people and the blue is for the sea.

The five pointed star represents the island groups. The star, used in navigation, is an important symbol for seafaring Torres Islander people.

The colour white of the star represents peace.