Table of Contents
When was the Aboriginal flag designed and Who designed it?
The Australian Aboriginal Flag was designed by artist Harold Thomas and first flown at Victoria Square in Adelaide, South Australia, on National Aborigines Day in July 1971. It became the official flag for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra after it was first flown there in 1972.
Who designed and copyrighted the Australian Aboriginal flag?
Harold Thomas
Copyright in the Aboriginal flag is privately owned by the flag’s creator Harold Thomas, a Luritja and Wombai man from Central Australia. In 1995, the then Governor-General proclaimed the Aboriginal flag as a flag of national significance under the Flags Act 1953.
Why did Harold Thomas design the Aboriginal flag?
Thomas designed the flag in 1971 as a symbol of the Aboriginal land rights movement. He was later involved in a high-profile case in the Federal Court and the High Court, to assert copyright over his design.
What is the meaning of the Aboriginal flag?
The Aboriginal Flag is divided horizontally into equal halves of black (top) and red (bottom), with a yellow circle in the centre. The black symbolises Aboriginal people. The yellow represents the sun, the constant re-newer of life. Red depicts the earth and peoples’ relationship to the land.
Who trademarked the Aboriginal flag?
In 1997, in the case of Thomas v Brown and Tennant, the Federal Court of Australia declared that Harold Thomas was the owner of copyright in the design of the Australian Aboriginal flag, and thus the flag has protection under Australian copyright law.
Who can use the Aboriginal flag?
You must seek permission for the use of an image from the actual owner of the copyright. This can often be difficult if there are multiple people who have contributed to the work. The owner of the Aboriginal flag is Harold Thomas and it is subject to copyright.
What is the meaning of the aboriginal flag?
Where is the original aboriginal flag?
Victoria Square
It was first flown at Victoria Square, Adelaide on National Aborigines’ Day on 12 July 1971. It was used later at the Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972. Today the flag has been adopted by all Aboriginal groups and is flown or displayed permanently at Aboriginal centres throughout Australia.
Who was the creator of the Aboriginal flag?
In 1995, the Aboriginal flag was recognised by the Australian Government as an official ‘Flag of Australia’ under the Flags Act 1953. The Aboriginal flag was designed and created by artist Harold Thomas, a Luritja man from central Australia and a member of the Stolen Generations.
What does the Australian Aboriginal flag look like?
The Aboriginal flag is divided horizontally into halves. The top half is black and the lower half red. There is a yellow circle in the centre of the flag. The meanings of the three colours in the flag, as stated by Harold Thomas, are: Black – represents the Aboriginal people of Australia.
Why did Harold Thomas come up with the Aboriginal flag?
It was Aboriginal artist and activist Harold Thomas, who came up with this idea, so as to gain attention and more visibility for their protests and cause. Harold Thomas had genuine passion for the Aboriginal fight, and this led to the birth of the flag.
What was the original purpose of the Australian flag?
The flag was originally designed for the land rights movement, and it became a symbol of the Aboriginal people of Australia. The flag’s width is twice its height. It is horizontally divided into a black region (above) and a red region (below).