<Tr> <Th> Design </Th> <Td> A Red Ensign with the Commonwealth / Federation Star at the hoist, and the Southern Cross in the fly half </Td> </Tr> <P> The flag of Australia is a defaced Blue Ensign: a blue field with the Union Jack in the canton (upper hoist quarter), and a large white seven - pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter . The fly contains a representation of the Southern Cross constellation, made up of five white stars--one small five - pointed star and four, larger, seven - pointed stars . There are other official flags representing Australia, its people and core functions of government . </P> <P> The flag's original design (with a six - pointed Commonwealth Star) was chosen in 1901 from entries in a competition held following Federation, and was first flown in Melbourne on 3 September 1901, the date proclaimed as Australian National Flag Day . A slightly different design was approved by King Edward VII in 1903 . The seven - pointed commonwealth star version was introduced by a proclamation dated 23 February 1908 . The dimensions were formally gazetted in 1934, and in 1954 the flag became recognised by, and legally defined in, the Flags Act 1953, as the "Australian National Flag". </P> <Ul> <Li> Constituent parts of the flag of Australia </Li> <Li> <P> Flags forming the Union Jack </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Southern Cross </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Commonwealth Star </P> </Li> </Ul>

When did the current australian flag became official