Actually, it is a seven sided star. It is the Commonwealth Star, also known as the Federation Star. There is one point for each of Australia's six states, and the other point represents all Australia's mainland and external territories.

the man in 19027

The Southern Cross are stars of a constellation which can be seen prominently in the southern hemisphere . It is widely used as a cultural national symbol in Australia .

Prior to Federation, each of the colonies of Australia had its own flag, but because they did not make up a nation, there was no national flag. After the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed on 1 January 1901, the Commonwealth government held a design competition for a new national flag. There were 32,000 entries in the competition, and most featured the Union Jack, the Southern Cross, or native animals.

Five almost identical entries were selected to share the 200 pound prize. The entries belonged to Ivor Evans, a fourteen-year-old schoolboy from Melbourne; Leslie John Hawkins, a teenager apprenticed to an optician from Sydney; Egbert John Nuttall, an architect from Melbourne; Annie Dorrington, an artist from Perth; and William Stevens, a ship's officer from Auckland, New Zealand.

On 3 September 1901, the new Australian flag flew for the first time from the top of the Exhibition Building in Melbourne. The flag was simplified, and approved by King Edward VII in 1902.

They are very different. The flag of the United Kingdom, which is referred to as the British flag, appears in the top left corner of the Australian flag. The rest of the Australian flag is blue and has some stars on it, including some representing the Southern Cross, which is a constellation, and the Commonwealth Star.

The flag doesn't have a name

The Union Jack represents our roots from England

The southern cross represents the southern hemisphere

The Federation star is in the bottom left hand corner, each point represents one state.

The blue represents us surrounded by ocean-being an island

The length of the flag should be 1.9 times the height, and the union should be 40% of the size of the flag. This is the official size of the US "title 4" flag.

Sourced from The Australian National Flag Association:

The Commonwealth or Federation Star represents the federation of all lands and people in the nation. The points on the star represent the unity of the six States, with a seventh point representing the federal Territories. The star as a whole represents Australia's bright aims for the future. It is known as the Commonwealth Star.

Like most of the nations of the British Commonwealth of Nations, the flag of Australia uses the same colors as the flag of the United Kingdom - namely red, white, and blue. It actually incorporates the Union Jack in the upper left corner and then adds the Southern Cross to the field to the right and a seven pointed "Commonwealth Star" to the field below the Union Jack. Usually the stars are displayed on a blue field (the Blue Ensign) but there is a variant which uses a red field - the Australian Red Ensign. The Red Ensign is flown by maritime vessels. From 1901 to 1954 the Red Ensign was used as a civil flag by State and local governments, private organisations and individuals. During that time the Blue Ensign was reserved for use by the Commonwealth Government, the Australian Olympic team and the military as a saluting flag at all reviews and ceremonial parades. In 1941, Prime Minister Robert Menzies stated that there should be no restrictions on private citizens using the Blue Ensign on land and, in 1947, Prime Minister Ben Chifley reaffirmed this position but it wasn't until the passage of the Flags Act 1953 that the restriction on civilians flying the Blue Ensign was officially lifted after which use of the Red Ensign on land became a rarity.

There is a British flag on the upper left corner of the Australian flag because Australia used British grammar and languages. Australia can use American languages or grammar too.

Dark blue was the colour of the British blue ensign, which was used in colonial times for the flags of most colonies and south of the equator, such as Australia and New Zealand.

The blue represents the seas surrounding Australia, the Union Jack reflects our predominant heritage, the Southern Cross is a constellation that is visible from anywhere in Australia and is somewhat symbolic of Australia, the Commonwealth Star has seven points, one for each State and one for the Territories.

Designed by Indigenous Elder Harold Thomas in 1971, this flag symbolises Aboriginal identity. Yellow represents the sun (giver of life) and yellow ochre. Red represents the red earth (the relationship to the land) and the red ochre used in ceremonies. Black represents the Aboriginal people.

Australia was once a colony of the British Empire and is still to this day part of the Common Wealth (England's Queen being the head of state).

I'm guessing it was put their as a reminder of their historic routes and to help in courage maintaining their ties.

If you refer to the Blue, Red and White design on the upper left of the Australian flag, it is the Union Jack indicating Australia's heritage.

The black swan was chosen as the emblem for Western Australia because WA was originally called the Swan River Settlement. The Swan River was so named by Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh in 1697 because of the black swans he saw in abundance there. The black swan found upon the river came to be seen as representing the Colony.

There are six stars on Australia's national flag. Five of them form the constellation of the Southern Cross, while the sixth is the Commonwealth star, also known as the Federation star, representing Australia's states and territories.

The Commonwealth Star of the Australian flag has seven points, one for each State and one for the Territories.

Quite simple

(1) The NZ flag does not have the "Commonwealth Star" which is an integral part of the Australian flag (this is the six pointed star to represent the six founding states plus Australia's territories, located under the Union Jack)

(2) The NZ flag has the Southern Cross coloured red with white borders(rather than white on the Aussie flag)

(3) The Southern Cross on the NZ flag only has four five-pointed stars (rather than five on the Aussie - four with seven points and one with five)

(Typo on original answer incorrectly said the stars on the Aussie flag were blue - they are of course white

The Australian flag does not have a nickname.

The Federatin star, situated below the Union Jack, is also known as the Commonwealth star. It has seven points, with six of the points representing the unity of the six states of Australia, and the seventh representing Australia's two mainland territories as well as its numerous external (offshore) territories.

when the flag is only half way up,it is called flying at "half staff".(The staff is the flagpole.)This is done to honor someone important who has died.