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First Ceremony of Saluting the Union FlagPrint Page 
The flagpole, mounted on a sandstone plinth, commemorates the location where the first ceremony of the saluting of the English flag by Captain Arthur Phillip took place marking the foundation of Australia following the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788.
The Union Jack flag is the most common name for the flag of the United Kingdom. The Union Jack has been in existence since 1606, when England and Scotland merged. In 1606, the first Union Jack flag was created by merging the English flag (the red cross of Saint George) with the Scottish flag (the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew on a blue background). This was the flag used in the ceremony in 1788.
In 1801, the addition of Ireland to the United Kingdom added the Irish flag to the flag (the red Saint Patrick's cross) which is the current design of the flag today.
The plinth also contains a plaque unveiled on the 26th January 1988 to commemorate the bicentenary of the founding of the colony of New South Wales.
Location
| Address: | Loftus Street, Opposite Jessie Street Gardens , Sydney, 2000 |
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| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -33.862183 Long: 151.210594 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Flagpole |
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| Monument Theme: | Landscape |
| Sub-Theme: | Settlement |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Thursday 26th January, 1967 |
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(Top Plaque)
THE FLAG FLOWN FROM THIS MAST
IS A REPLICA OF THE UNION FLAG WHICH WAS
USED AT THE FOUNDATION OF AUSTRALIA
JANUARY 26TH 1788
+
See Plaque On Wall Of Customs House
(Bottom Plaque)
The Council Of The City Of Sydney
This Flag Mast Was Erected To Commemorate The Location
At Which The First Ceremony of Saluting The Flag By Captain
Arthur Phillip R.N. And His Company Took Place To Mark
The Foundation Of Australia On 26th January 1788
The Location Was Determined By A Committee of Enquiry Comprising
The Chief Justice of The Supreme Court Of N.S.W.
The Hon.L.J.Herron C.M.G.
The Surveyor General of N.S.W.
Mr C Elphinstone
Mr J.W. Forsyth
The Director Of Parks
Mr C.S.Garth. A.R.A.I.A. M.A.P.I.
And Appointed By The Council of The City Of Sydney
At A Meeting Held On The 5th August 1963
J.H.Luscombe John Armstrong
Town Clerk Lord Mayor
26th January 1967
THIS PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED BY
HIS EXCELLENCY AIR MARSHALL SIR JAMES ROWLAND
A.C., K.B.E., D.F.C., A,F,C.,
GOVERNOR OF NEW SOUTH WALES
ON
26TH JANUARY, 1988
TO COMMEMORATE THE BICENTENARY OF THE FOUNDING
OF THE COLONY OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Hon.B.J.Unsworth Sir Eric Neal, Chief Commissioner
Premier of New South Wales Council Of The City Of Sydney
