The Northern Territory Flag
1978

The Northern Territory Flag
1978

The Northern territory flag was adopted on 1 July 1978, when self- government was proclaimed.

Robert Ingpen, a prominent Australian artist, was commissioned to design the flag. He based his design on several designs entered in a competition organised by the Northern Territory Government in 1978.

A black panel on the left of the flag bears the Southern Cross. On the right hand oche- coloured panel is a stylised Sturt’s desert rose in white with a black star in the centre. The seven petals of the desert rose, and the seven points of the star symbolise the six Australian States and the Northern Territory. The Southern Cross stars, in white and ochre are the official colours of the Northern Territory and the Sturt’s dessert rose is its floral emblem.