Flag of Queensland on Our Flagpole

Queensland

As at 2017, the city of Gold Coast operates Queensland’s only tram network.

Flag of Queensland:

The state flag of Queensland is a British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge on a white disc in the fly. The badge is a light blue Maltese Cross with an imperial crown in the centre of the cross. The flag dates from 1876, with minor variations, and the badge was designed by William Hemmant, the Colonial Secretary and Treasurer of Queensland in 1876.

Flag of Queensland
Flag of Queensland

On 10 December 1859, “a light blue flag with a red St George’s Cross and union in the corner” (now known as the Queensland Separation Flag) was flown in Brisbane to mark Queensland’s separation from New South Wales.

Queensland Separation Flag 1859
Queensland Separation Flag 1859

The State Flag was first created in 1870 with the Union Jack upon the royal blue background; however, no Badge was present. In its place was a profile of Queen Victoria on a blue disc surrounded by a white annulus on which the word “Queensland” was inscribed in gold.

Flag of Queensland 1870-1876
Flag of Queensland 1870-1876

The next alteration occurred in 1876 as there were many complaints that the reproduction of Victoria’s head was too difficult and a replacement was called for.

State Badge of Queensland
State Badge of Queensland

The Maltese Cross impaled with the Crown was chosen out of four proposed designs to replace Victoria’s head.

Badge Proposal One
Badge Proposal One
Badge Proposal Two
Badge Proposal Two
Badge Proposal Three
Badge Proposal Three

The final official alteration occurred in 1901 with the death of Queen Victoria. The change was in relation to the crown impaled upon the Maltese Cross; as Victoria and Edward VII had chosen different coronation crowns, the crowns upon the Badge also had to change.

Flag of Queensland 1901-1952
Flag of Queensland 1901-1952

However over the years the monarchs of Australia have chosen differing coronation crowns and therefore, the crowns have unofficially kept up with each change.

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