Van Dieman's Land Ensign(Australia)

Last modified: 2016-03-05 by ian macdonald
Keywords: australia | van diemans land | white ensign | southern cross | stars: southern cross |
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by Vincent Morley and Jonathan Dixon, 16 Apr 2005

• Description of the flag

See also:

• Australia
• Tasmania
• Historical Australian Flags

Description

The blue and white striped British ensign with a red cross overall is described on the chart as the "Van Dieman's Land Ensign". I first reported the existence of this chart (by Edward Murphy, located in the State Library of Tasmania in Crux Australis Volume VI No1/25 in January 1990 following a visit to Tasmania.�

This is apparently an unofficial flag for merchant shipping in Tasmania prior to the adoption of official flags.� It appears to trace its origin to the NSW Merchant Flag, which�first appeared on the Nicholson chart of 1832, together with the first record of the NSW Ensign (also known as the Australian ensign and the Federation flag).� This NSW Merchant flag is believed to be the historical origins of the Murray River Flag.� Other than the two Edward Murphy flag charts of the 1850's, there is no known historical record of the usage of the Van Dieman's Land�ensign.
Ralph Kelly, 14 April 2003