ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Flag of Australia

The flag of Australia is a special symbol that represents the country and its people. It is made up of three parts: a blue field with the Union Jack in the top left corner, a large white star with seven points, and five smaller stars that form the shape of the constellation, the Southern Cross.

The Union Jack is a flag that symbolizes the United Kingdom, which Australia was once a part of. The large white star with seven points is called the Commonwealth Star, and it represents the solidarity and unity of the six states and the territories of Australia.

The five stars that form the Southern Cross represent a group of stars that can only be seen in the Southern Hemisphere of the earth, where Australia is located. This constellation has been important to many Indigenous Australian cultures for thousands of years and has great significance in Australian history.

The flag of Australia was first flown on September 3rd, 1901, and was designed by a man named William Harrison. Many people in Australia feel very proud of their flag and it is often displayed at important events, like national holidays or sporting events.