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Tasmania (Australia)

Last modified: 2008-08-09 by jonathan dixon
Keywords: australia | tasmania | blue ensign | lion |
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[Tasmanian flag]image by Jorge Candeias

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Tasmania

The Tasmanian state flag was created as a colonial flag - a British Blue Ensign with the badge of the colony added to the blue field. Because some of the Australian state badges were originaly created to represent the Governor (as distinct from the Colony) they generally showed some element of British royal heraldry - the main criteria being that it be different from similar badges used in other parts of the Empire. Tasmania uses one red heraldic lion (Cyprus used two lions and Kenya a heraldic lion standing)
Ralph Kelly, 19 September 1999

The 2nd edition of Australian Flags [ozf98] included the addition "The flag was subsequently adopted for general State government use, but it was not until 3 December 1975 that the design was officially gazetted." This is an error as it ignores the Tasmanian government proclamation dated 25 September 1876.
Ralph Kelly, 28 September 2006

It's my understanding that the lion on the Tasmanian flag was redrafted recently (a year or two ago). I can't remember where I heard this, but it may well have been on this list. However, when I was visiting my parents at Christmas time, I didn't see any of the new designs. Trust me, I looked carefully, and all the flags I saw had the old lion.

This could mean that manufacturers haven't caught up... or it could mean that they are still wearing out stocks of old flags. Or it could mean that the original information was wrong.
Robert M. J. Czernkowski, 19 April 1999

1875 flag

During some weeks in 1875, Tasmania used a blue ensign with a white cross and stars on it arranged in a southern cross.
Source: Australian Girl Scouts website (now defunct)
Olivier Touzeau, 13 January 2001

State Governor

Tasmania State Governor used the defaced Union Flag. It changed to a defaced Blue Ensign 1977. I don't know what the ensign defacements are.
David Prothero, 24 February 1997

The Tasmanian State Governor's flag was changed to a slight variation of the State Flag, with the addition of the St. Edward's Crown above the fly badge in February 1977, after the South Australian governor made a similar change.
Ralph Bartlett, 4 August 2004

See also: State Governors' flags