Flag of Western Australia

Flag Ratio: 1:2

The current state flag of Western Australia was officially adopted by the government of Western Australia in 1953.

The flag is based on the defaced British Blue Ensign with the state badge located in the fly. The badge is a gold disc with a native Black Swan, the swan is facing towards the hoist. The black swan has long been a symbol of Western Australia. The original colony was called the Swan River Colony at the location which is now Perth.

Previous flag

State Flag 1870-1953

The state badge

The first flag of Western Australia was adopted in 1870 and is almost identical to the current flag of Western Australia. The only difference is that the swan was facing the opposite direction towards the fly rather than towards the hoist. The direction of the swan was changed to conform to the vexillological guideline that animals on flags must face the hoist, so when carried on a pole, the animal faces the same direction of the bearer.

<gallery class=" File:Flag of the Western Australia Fire and Rescue Service.svg|Flag of the Western Australia Fire and Rescue Service File:Flag of the Governor of Western Australia.svg|Standard of the Governor of Western Australia File:Flag of the Governor of Western Australia 1953-1988.svg|Standard of the Governor 1953-1988 File:Flag of the Governor of Western Australia 1870-1953.svg|Standard of the Governor 1870-1953 File:Flag of Dominion of Westralia (secession movement).svg|Flag of the "Dominion of Westralia", the secessionist movement in Western Australia in the 1920s-mid 1930s </gallery>

References

• Western Australia at Flags of the World