Not many know it but the Flag of Australian Aborigines was first created as a protest flag. It was set to symbolize the land rights movement of Indigenous Australians. At this point the flag is now a representation of Australian Aboriginal people. Here’s an accurate description of the flag: It is a yellow disc that sits on a horizontally divided field of the colors black and red. Harold Thomas, an Aboriginal Artist, is the original designer of flag. Thomas, a descendent from the Luritja of Central Australia, designed the flag in 1971.

Under Section 5 of the Flags Act 1953, the Flag of Australian Aborigines was included along side the Torres Strait Islander Flag as official “Flags of Australia” on July 14, 1995 by the Australian government. According to its designer Harold Thomas, each of the colors have a symbolic meaning. Black symbolizes the Aboriginal people of Australia. Red represents the red earth, the red ochre, as well as their spiritual relation to the land. And yellow symbolizes the Sun which is the giver and protector of life.

On July 12, 1971, the flag made its debut and was flown in Victoria Square on National Aborigines Day. Several buildings such as the Melbourne Trades Hall fly both the Flag of Australian Aborigines and the Australian flag. Also, several councils in different Australian towns fly the Aboriginal flag from their town halls. The Newcastle City Council was the very first city council to fly the Aboriginal flag in 1997. After the flags 30th anniversary in 2001, recommendations were accepted to fly the Flag of Australian Aborigines, permanently, in Victoria Square and in front of the Town Hall.