southerncross

Perhaps the most dominant symbols in the Australian national Flag are the five stars of the Southern Cross. This constellation of stars has a long history, credit being given to the French astronomer Augustin Royer who named it "Crux Australia" in 1679. It was known however long before that. Dante, in his great work Purgatorio (1313) mentions it and gave to the four main stars of the group the symbolic moral virtues of Justice, Prudence, Temperance and Fortitude. There are of course five main stars in the group known as Aplha Crucis, Beta Crucis, Gamma Crucis, Delta Crucis and Eplsilon Crusis.

It is often stated incorrectly that the Southern Cross is not visible in the Northern Hemisphere but during April and May it is visible south of latitude 30 degrees north. Thus places such as Egypt, Arabia, Tripoli, South China and Mexico can observe it. The Southern Cross lies in the heavens about one third of the way between the Southern Celestial Pole and the Equator.

Its distinction as a notable feature of the southern night skies has brought about its use in several countries of the southern hemisphere. Brazil placed it on her postage stamps in 1889, New Zealand uses four of the stars on her National Flag. It also appears on the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia.

The original Flag unfurled in 1901 had the stars with nine, eight, seven six and five points respectively.

A change was made in 1909 when all the stars, except the small Epsilon, were amended to seven points each. (see Commonwsealth Gazette 22 May 1909). The probable reason for this was the ease of manufacture but it also standardised the symmetry of the stars as the Commonwealth Star had been increased from six to seven points in 1908 when Papua became part of the Commonwealth.

Another interesting feature of the Southern Cross is its association with aboriginal myths and legends. Those interested should read The First Surprise by C P Mountford (p 70) So the aboriginal race does have a place on our National Flag after all!