The Aboriginal Flag was designed by Indigenous Elder Harold Thomas in 1971 and symbolizes Aboriginal identity. It is divided into two equal halves.
The top half is black to symbolize the Aboriginal people of Australia. The bottom half is red which represents the red earth, the red ochre and a spiritual relation to the land. The yellow circle represents the sun, the giver of life and protector.
The flag was first raised on 12 July 1971 at Victoria Square in Adelaide on National Aboriginal Day. The then Governor-General Bill Hayden AC, proclaimed the Australian Aboriginal Flag a flag of Australia on 14 July 1995.