Australian Flag Society

The Australian Flag Society (AFS) is an Australian advocacy organization focused on the status, use, history and public recognition of the Australian national flag. Its central position is that the existing flag should be retained rather than replaced and should receive constitutional recognition. The society also promotes broader civic and historical engagement with national symbols, including public ceremonies, educational material and the preservation or recovery of historically significant flags. The organization developed from the Australian Capital Territory branch of the Australian National Flag Association (ANFA). That branch was established by Nigel Morris, who became associated with public advocacy on flag issues and with the distribution of educational material about the Australian flag. In 2002, Morris obtained federal funding for an “Our National Flag ... since 1901” video kit that was distributed to Australian primary schools. The initiative reflected the organization’s interest in presenting the flag as part of Australian civic education and national history. On 15 July 2003, the ACT organization ended its affiliation with ANFA and adopted the Australian Flag Society name. After the rebranding, the society continued to campaign against proposals to alter or replace the national flag. Its activities have included opposition to formal recognition of the Eureka Flag under the Flags Act 1953, objections to the official elevation of alternative or separate symbolic flags in some public settings, and advocacy for the existing flag’s constitutional protection. The society has also expressed opposition to Aboriginal treaties and to separate elected or constitutional representation, positions that place it within wider debates over Australian national identity and constitutional arrangements. The AFS has combined advocacy with historical projects. A preserved flag associated with the centenary of Australia’s federal Parliament was entrusted to the society after a 2001 request by federal member Paul Neville that the flag be removed before deterioration and offered to a museum or gallery. The society subsequently used the flag in school parades and Australian National Flag Day activities across the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Queensland. It has also pursued the recovery of military and wartime flags, including a 2013 worldwide search for a Union Jack reportedly flown at the Eureka Stockade, for which it announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to its discovery. In 2024, reporting described the society’s discovery of a red ensign marked with references to Changi in 1941–42 and “Chitty flag,” together with sporting equipment associated with prisoner-of-war activities at Changi. Another strand of the society’s work is civics education and ceremonial practice. It has proposed that 22 August be recognized as “Captain Cook Day,” commemorating the date on which James Cook declared a British claim to Australia. It has also promoted an annual pause for a national salute on Australian National Flag Day, drawing on a form of school ceremony that largely fell out of use after the late 1950s. In 2009, the AFS released a National Language, Holiday and Flag Bill. The proposal advocated constitutional recognition of English as Australia’s national language, retention of 26 January as Australia Day and retention of the existing Australian flag. It also argued for changes to the constitutional and legislative framework governing future consideration of flag designs. The society publishes an occasional bulletin titled Flag Breaking News and has maintained an online presence through its website and social-media channels. Public information about its internal governance, membership, finances and current officeholders is limited. Its public identity is therefore best understood as a specialist civic and national-symbol advocacy group rather than a commercial product brand.

The Australian Flag Society emerged from the Australian Capital Territory branch of the Australian National Flag Association. The ACT branch was founded by Nigel Morris, who developed a public profile as an advocate for the Australian flag. In 2002, Morris secured federal funding for an educational video kit titled “Our National Flag ... since 1901.” The kit was distributed to primary schools around Australia and formed part of the organization’s effort to embed knowledge of the national flag in civic education. The relationship with ANFA ended on 15 July 2003, when the ACT branch separated from the association and was reconstituted under the Australian Flag Society name. The renamed group continued to support the existing Australian flag and to oppose proposals for a replacement design. Its advocacy has included campaigns for constitutional recognition of the flag and criticism of legal mechanisms that could permit a future design contest or plebiscite to displace the current flag. The society has participated in disputes concerning the recognition and public use of other flags. Before the 2004 sesquicentenary of the Eureka Stockade, it opposed proposals to provide the Eureka Flag with official recognition under the Flags Act 1953. In 2008, it lobbied Tasmanian parliamentarians in connection with a proposal that the Aboriginal flag be displayed at Parliament House in Hobart. The society’s public positions have also included opposition to Aboriginal treaties and to separate elected or constitutional representation. These positions connect its flag advocacy with a broader conception of Australian national unity and constitutional identity. Historical preservation is another recurring part of its work. During the centenary of federation, federal member Paul Neville asked that the flag flown over Parliament House be removed before it became faded or tattered and preserved by a museum or gallery. The flag was subsequently entrusted to the Australian Flag Society. The organization used it in parades and school events associated with Australian National Flag Day in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Queensland. The AFS has promoted several commemorative and educational initiatives. It proposed that 22 August be proclaimed Captain Cook Day, marking the date associated with Cook’s declaration of a British claim to Australia. It has also advocated an annual school pause during Australian National Flag Day for recitation of a national salute. The proposed salute draws on an older school tradition that had fallen out of common use by the late 1950s. On 30 April 2009, the society released its National Language, Holiday and Flag Bill. The proposal sought constitutional recognition of English as the national language, retention of 26 January as Australia Day and retention of the existing national flag. It also contemplated placing the essential elements of the flag in the Constitution while leaving construction details to the Flags Act. The proposal addressed the society’s concerns about the legal status of future flag changes and about the cost and constitutional implications of an alternative-flag selection process. The society has also conducted searches for historically important flags and related objects. In 2013 it announced an international search and a $10,000 reward for information about a Union Jack said to have been flown at the Eureka Stockade. A wartime Australian flag associated with the 2nd/23rd Battalion and the Tarakan campaign was later connected with the society’s promotional work for a proposed annual national salute. In 2024, newspaper reporting described the discovery of a red ensign marked with references to Changi and “Chitty flag,” alongside a leather football, whistle and basketball associated with sporting leagues conducted by Australian prisoners of war at Changi. The Australian Flag Society publishes the occasional Flag Breaking News bulletin and has maintained a website and social-media presence. Detailed information about its membership, leadership structure and finances is not readily available in the cited public material. Its documented history is principally a history of advocacy, commemorative activity, educational outreach and the recovery of flag-related historical artifacts.

• 2024

  Reported discovery of Changi-related flag artifacts

  [3]Corryong Couriercorryongcourier.com.au

  The Corryong Courier reported the discovery of a red ensign and sporting equipment associated with Australian prisoners of war and sporting activities at Changi.

• 2013

  Worldwide Eureka Stockade flag search

  [1]Australian Flag Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The AFS announced a worldwide search for a Union Jack reportedly flown at the Eureka Stockade and offered a $10,000 reward for useful information.

• 2009

  National Language, Holiday and Flag Bill released

  [1]Australian Flag Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society published a proposal supporting English as the national language, retention of 26 January as Australia Day and constitutional recognition of the existing flag.

• 2008

  Tasmanian parliamentary flag lobbying

  [1]Australian Flag Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society lobbied Tasmanian parliamentarians over a proposal concerning display of the Aboriginal flag at Parliament House in Hobart.

• 2004

  Opposition to official recognition of the Eureka Flag

  [1]Australian Flag Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society opposed moves to have the Eureka Flag officially recognized under the Flags Act 1953 during the lead-up to the 150th anniversary of the Eureka Stockade.

• 2003

  Separation from ANFA and rebranding

  [1]Australian Flag Societyen.wikipedia.org

  On 15 July, the Australian Capital Territory branch ended its affiliation with the Australian National Flag Association and adopted the Australian Flag Society name.

• 2002

  National flag education video distributed to schools

  [1]Australian Flag Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Nigel Morris secured federal funding for an “Our National Flag ... since 1901” video kit, which was distributed to Australian primary schools.

• 2001

  Parliament House centenary flag preservation

  [1]Australian Flag Societyen.wikipedia.org

  During the centenary of federation, a flag flown over Parliament House was proposed for preservation and was later entrusted to the Australian Flag Society for educational and commemorative use.

A traditionalist civic advocacy organization positioned around retaining, promoting and constitutionally recognizing the existing Australian national flag.

• Civics education · 2002

  Our National Flag ... since 1901 video kit

  An educational video kit about the history and meaning of the Australian national flag. Federal funding obtained in 2002 supported distribution of the kit to primary schools across Australia.

• Publication

  Flag Breaking News

  An occasional bulletin used by the Australian Flag Society to communicate news and commentary concerning Australian flags, national ceremonies, historical artifacts and related advocacy.

• 2013Eureka Stockade Union Jack quest

  Worldwide

  The society launched an international search for a Union Jack reportedly used at the Eureka Stockade and announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to its discovery.

  Outcome. No confirmed recovery is stated in the cited material.

  Source
• 2009National Language, Holiday and Flag Bill

  Australia

  The AFS proposed constitutional and legislative changes to recognize English as the national language, retain 26 January as Australia Day and secure recognition of the existing flag.

  Outcome. The proposal did not become identified in the cited material as enacted law.

  Source
• 2008Tasmanian Aboriginal flag display lobbying

  Tasmania

  The society lobbied members of the Tasmanian Parliament in response to a proposal concerning display of the Aboriginal flag at Parliament House in Hobart.

  Source
• 2004Opposition to Eureka Flag recognition

  Australia

  The AFS opposed proposals to grant the Eureka Flag official recognition under the Flags Act 1953.

  Outcome. The campaign formed part of the society’s continuing support for a single established national flag.

  Source
• 2001Parliament House centenary flag tour

  Australian Capital Territory · New South Wales · Queensland

  The society took responsibility for a historic Parliament House centenary flag and used it in school parades connected with Australian National Flag Day.

  Outcome. The flag was preserved and displayed in educational and commemorative activities.

  Source
• National salute initiative

  Australia

  The society has proposed that Australian schools pause annually to recite a national salute during Australian National Flag Day commemorations.

  Source
• Captain Cook Day proposal

  Australia

  The AFS proposed proclaiming 22 August as Captain Cook Day to commemorate the date associated with James Cook’s declaration of a British claim to Australia.

  Source

• 2009

  Release the National Language, Holiday and Flag BillStrategy

  Background

  The proposal was presented in response to a petition calling for parliamentary review of the Flags Act 1953.

  Action taken

  The society released a bill proposing constitutional recognition of English as the national language, 26 January as Australia Day and the existing flag as the national flag.

  Aftermath

  The proposal articulated the society’s preferred constitutional framework, but the cited material does not establish that it was enacted.

  Source

• 2003

  Separate from ANFA and adopt an independent identityStrategy

  Background

  The organization had operated as the Australian Capital Territory branch of the Australian National Flag Association.

  Action taken

  On 15 July 2003, the branch ended its affiliation with ANFA and rebranded as the Australian Flag Society.

  Aftermath

  The society continued independently as an advocate for retention and constitutional recognition of the Australian flag.

  Source

1. 1Australian Flag Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Australian Flag Society official websiteflagsociety.org.au
3. 3Corryong Couriercorryongcourier.com.au