The Australian flag was raised for the first time in Melbourne on 3 September 1901, following a design competition that drew 32,823 entries. 

The stars of the Southern Cross represent Australia’s geographic position in the Southern Hemisphere, and the large Commonwealth star symbolises the federation of states and territories.  The symbol of the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is a red and black flag with a large yellow circle, first flown in 1971.