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Copyrighted Australian flags (1901)

Lumley copyrighted papers

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Lumley copyrighted papers

In the National Archives of Australia, two files of copyright papers submitted in late 1901 by Mr. William Henry Lumley, business broker of Melbourne, have been found. These papers include flag paintings in colour with three done in May 1901 and a further three featuring minor amendments from later in 1901. All of Mr. Lumley's Southern Cross stars had six points, otherwise they were of broadly similar appearance to the winning flag designs of the 1901 Federal Flag Competition. However, it is not known if Mr. Lumley's designs were entered in the 1901 Federal Flag Competition.

The form of the Commonwealth Stars in Mr. Lumley's first set of paintings is the same as would appear in the British colour plates enclosed in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 8 of 20 February 1903. The form of the Commonwealth Stars in Mr. Lumley's second set of paintings is, apart from the added roundels, much the same as the correct specifications that were issued by the Department of External Affairs soon after these artworks were prepared. But perhaps the greatest surprise is that both seven-page files included not only blue and red ensigns, but also white ensigns with blue six-point stars. Apart from the numbers of star-points, this white flag design is essentially that of the Australian White Ensign that eventuated sixty-five years later. Apparently, Mr. Lumley had a talent for clairvoyance!

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=507605
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=507606

Jeff Thomson, 20 April 2026