Flag of South Australia
The flag of South Australia was introduced on January 13, 1904 . It is a variant of the British Blue Ensign , with the state's badge in the flight section. The emblem shows a native bird, the Piping Shrike ( flute bird , Gymnorhina tibicen leuconata ) with outspread wings on a yellow disc .
Previous flags
South Australia introduced the first flag in 1870. It was also a modified Blue Ensign. The constellation Southern Cross and the two stars Alpha and Beta Centauri were depicted on the black disk in the flight section .
In 1876 the colony introduced a new flag with a changed badge. This showed the arrival of Britannia (a woman with a golden robe and a shield in hand, representing the settlers) and her encounter with an Aboriginal sitting on a rock (holding a spear in hand). A kangaroo was carved out on the rock . The British Colonial Office had requested a change because the design was too similar to the flag of Victoria and the flag of New Zealand .