Murray River Flag

Murray River Flag
FIAV 000100.svg Flag Ratio: 1:2 Upper Murray River Flag
FIAV 000100.svg Flag Ratio: 1:2 Lower Murray River Flag

The Murray River Flag is flown from paddle steamers and other vessels in the Australian States of Victoria and South Australia that ply the waters of the Murray-Darling river system. Little is known about the flag's early history but it may have originated as far back as 1850 when the formation of the Murray River League was announced.[1] RW Beddome, founder of the League, enthused "Up with the Murray flag."[2] No fragments of the original Murray River Flag are known to exist and two variants have passed down to the present day.

Contents

History

The earliest recorded reference to the Murray River Flag was at Goolwa to honour the first paddlesteamer to go into service on the Murray River. The Mary Ann, built by three brothers William, Thomas and Elliot Randell, began her voyage from Mannum downstream to Goolwa on 4 March 1853. The Murray River Flag was hoisted upon their arrival.[1][2] The flag was described by a reporter of the Australian Register [3]:

"The flag bears a red cross with four horizontal blue bars. The cross being charged with five stars as emblems of the Colonies while the upper corner, is taken up with British connections which is depicted by the Union Jack. It has been named, we understand, the Murray River Flag."

It is believed that the blue bars represent the four major rivers that run into the Murray River, the Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and the Darling.[3] The design bears a strong resemblance to other Australian flags of the 19th Century, such as the Australian Federation Flag and the National Colonial Flag for Australia.

Modern Usage

Today the Murray River is represented by two flags, each flag similar but based on different interpretations of the original description. The Upper Murray Flag has darker blue bands on its flag, representing the darker waters of the river's upper reaches. This design was also the house flag of the Murray River Steam Navigation Co. which suggests that it is a lineal descendant of the original flag design.[4] The Lower Murray Flag, used predominantly in South Australia, is distinguished by the use of pale blue bands representing the lighter coloured water of the lower reaches of the Murray.[3]

See also

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Murray River — For other uses, see Murray River (disambiguation). Coordinates: 35°33′32″S 138°52′48″E / 35.55889°S 138.88°E / 35.55889; 138 …   Wikipedia

  • Belfast-Murray River —  Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island provincial electoral district …   Wikipedia

  • Flag of England — Use Civil and state flag Proportion …   Wikipedia

  • Flag of Australia — See also: List of Australian flags Flag of Australia Use National flag and state ensign …   Wikipedia

  • Murray Bridge, South Australia — Murray Bridge South Australia Main street of Murray Bridge Population …   Wikipedia

  • Murray Bridge — Staat: Australien Bundesstaat …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Murray Shire (New South Wales) — Shire of Murray Lage des Murray Shire in New South Wales Gliederung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Murray, Utah —   City   Murray City Hall …   Wikipedia

  • Murray-Darling Basin Authority — MDBA Agency overview Formed December 2008 Preceding agency Murray Darling Basin Commission Headquarters Canberra Annual budget A$280 m (2009 …   Wikipedia

  • Murray State Racers — University Murray State University Conference(s) Ohio Valley Conference NCAA Division I ( …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”