The Australian Aboriginal flag is flown for the first time.

The Australian Aboriginal flag was designed in 1971 by Aboriginal artist and activist **Harold Thomas**, a Luritja man from Central Australia. First flown on National Aborigines Day in Adelaide on 12 July 1971, the flag quickly became a powerful symbol of Aboriginal identity, unity and the struggle for justice and land rights. Its simple but striking design consists of a black upper half representing the Aboriginal people, a red lower half symbolizing the earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies and the spiritual connection to the land, and a yellow circle in the centre representing the sun, the giver of life. During the 1970s, the flag gained widespread recognition as it was carried at marches, protests and community events across Australia.

Throughout the following decades, the Aboriginal flag became closely associated with major milestones in the Indigenous rights movement. It was prominently displayed during the Aboriginal Tent Embassy protests established outside Parliament House in Canberra in 1972, where it became an enduring symbol of the campaign for land rights and self-determination. As support for Aboriginal rights grew, the flag increasingly appeared at public buildings, sporting events, schools and cultural celebrations. In 1995, the Australian Government formally proclaimed the Aboriginal flag as an official Flag of Australia under the *Flags Act 1953*, recognizing its national significance alongside the Australian National Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag.

For many years, copyright ownership of the flag remained with Harold Thomas, leading to disputes over its commercial use and licensing. These issues prompted widespread public debate, particularly after legal action was taken against businesses and sporting organizations using the flag without authorization. In January 2022, the Australian Government purchased the copyright from Thomas for A$20 million, making the design freely available for public use while preserving Thomas’s recognition as its creator. Today, the Australian Aboriginal flag is one of the nation’s most widely recognized emblems, representing the enduring cultures, histories and achievements of Aboriginal peoples, as well as their continuing aspirations for equality, reconciliation and respect.