The Australian Aboriginal flag is the official flag of Australian Aboriginal peoples. It has an important historical connection to Adelaide.
Australian Aboriginal flag
The Aboriginal flag was born in July 1971, at a land rights rally in Victoria Square / Tarntanyangga, in Adelaide. Harold Thomas designed the Australian Aboriginal flag. Harold is a Luritji man, born in Alice Springs, and who currently lives in the Northern Territory. The flag is divided horizontally into two equal halves, with a circle in the centre. The upper half is black, symbolising Aboriginal people; the lower half is red, symbolising the mother earth and the red ochre used by Aboriginal people in ceremonies. The centre circle is yellow, representing the sun - the constant giver and renewer of life.
Torres Strait Islander flag
The Torres Strait Islander flag was designed by the late Bernard Namok, created as a symbol of unity and identity for Torres Strait Islander peoples. Torres Strait Islanders’ culture and traditions are strongly connected to the land, sea and sky - elements which are represented in the flag. Green represents the land, blue, the sky, black, the Indigenous people, while white represents peace. The Dhari represents Torres Strait Islander people and the five-pointed star represents the five island groups within the Torres Strait.
Permanent flying of the flag
Council endorsed the permanent flying in 2021. Today you’ll always see the Australian Aboriginal flag flying proudly at the Blackwood roundabout and on the flagpoles in front of the Civic Centre and both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags displayed in the Council Chambers.