The Australian flag is blue with the Union Jack (the flag of the United Kingdom) in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large white seven-pointed star, known as the Commonwealth Star, in the lower hoiset-side quadrant.
The Commonwealth Star symbolises the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901: one point for each of the six states and one representing Australia's inland and offshore territories.
The remaining half of the flag is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four larger seven-pointd stars.
The Australian flag is similar in appearance to the New Zealand flag. Both have the Union Jack in the upper hoist-side quadrant and both have a represenation of the Southern Cross.
Notable points of difference between the two national flags: the New Zealand flag has nothing in the lower hoist-side quadrant (occupied by the Commonwealth Star in the Australian flag) and its Southern Cross comprises four five-pointed red stars (whereas all the stars in the Australian flag are white).
