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The State flag dates from the time when Queensland was a self-governing British colony with its own navy.
In 1865, the Governor of Queensland was informed by the Admiralty in London that the colony's vessels of war should fly the Blue Ensign, imposed with the colony's badge, on the stern, and a blue pennant at the masthead. Other vessels in the colony's service were to fly the same flag, but not the pennant.
At that time, Queensland did not have such a badge. This prompted the submission to London of a proposed badge design.
In 1875, the Governor received drawings of the badges of several colonies from London, which the Admiralty proposed to insert in the Admiralty Flag Book. He was asked to certify that the badge shown for the colony of Queensland was correct.
The badge was composed of a representation of Queen Victoria's head, facing right, on a blue background, encircled by a white band, with the word Queensland at the top.
The Queensland Government believed it would be too difficult to adequately reproduce the head of the Queen on a flag. An alternative design, a Royal Crown superimposed on a Maltese Cross, was then submitted to London.
In 1876, the Governor was advised that the Admiralty had "approved of the device enclosed in your despatch...as the future badge of the colony for insertion in...the Blue Ensign for use by government vessels".
The Queensland Government encourages the flying of the State flag. Requests from schools and youth groups for free flags should be made through State Members of Parliament.
Download Flying the flag - the State of Queensland flag (PDF, 927 KB).
Related links
Emblems of Queensland Act 2005