Flag of Melbourne

The flag of Melbourne, in Australia, is the red Cross of St George with a crown in the centre and a drawing in each quarter: a sheep, a bull, a whale and a ship. They are the four businesses that made the city grow in the 19th century.

How it came about

Melbourne was founded in the 1830s, when Australia was a British colony. In 1848 the city made itself a seal with the Cross of St George and its four economic activities. The coat of arms came later out of that seal, and the flag is the coat of arms put onto cloth. It was adopted on 18 March 1970.

How it has changed

It has not changed since 1970.

What it means

• Cross of St George

  the British origin of the city.

• Royal crown

  the monarchy.

• Sheep’s fleece

  the wool trade.

• Bull

  cattle farming.

• Whale

  whaling.

• Sailing ship

  trade by sea.

Fun facts

1. A portrait of the economy of 1848

   The four drawings are neither legends nor saints: they are wool, cattle, whaling and maritime trade, the businesses of Melbourne in the mid-19th century.

2. It flies on a ship

   Besides at the town hall and in the mayor’s car, the flag flies on the Enterprize, a replica of the sailing ship that brought the first settlers to found the city.

3. Too full

   It has been criticised for having too many things, and there have been requests to redesign it.

4. The same cross as London’s

   The red Cross of St George on white is the same as that of the flag of London, which instead of drawings carries a sword in one corner.

Location