Statement, David Jull

National Flag Day Officially Proclaimed

Minister for Administrative Services
The Hon David Jull MP
3 September 1996

Today, September 3, has been officially proclaimed as National Flag Day.

The Minister for Administrative Services, David Jull, made the announcement at a special ceremony in Sydney to mark the 95th anniversary of the first official flying of the Australian National Flag.

“The Government is delighted to officially recognise the birthday of our most important national symbol, the Australian National Flag,” Mr Jull said.

“Our National Flag is a unifying force. It is a familiar and powerful image and a focus for national pride.

“This Proclamation reinforces the Government’s support of the current National Flag and our commitment to ensure that the future of the flag remains in the hands of the people it represents – the Australian community.

“It also honours a promise we made in 1992 to officially declare September 3 as our National Flag Day,” Mr Jull said..

Flag societies and enthusiasts throughout Australia have traditionally promoted the flying of the Australian National Flag on September 3 each year, but until now Government endorsement of the anniversary has been informal.

September 3 was the day in 1901 that the Australian National Flag was first hoisted over Melbourne’s Exhibition Buildings, the home of the first Federal Parliament.

It was also the day that the then Prime Minister, Edmund Barton, announced the winners of the Commonwealth Government’s flag competition to find a national flag to celebrate Australia’s Federation.

Today’s ceremony in Sydney’s Martin Place involved children from Mowbray Primary School and Five Dock Public School as well as the Australian Army Band, Sydney.