Flags flown on James Craig

Flag Adopted: 15 April 1954
Flag Proportion: 1:2
Use: Civil Ensign
The Australian Civil Ensign, or Australian Red Ensign, is simply a red version of the Australian National flag. It is for use only at sea and officially never on land, but can be used by private citizens. At sea, it is the only flag allowable for merchant ships registered in Australia under the Navigation and Shipping Act 1912. Pleasure craft, however, may fly either the Red Ensign or the National Flag.

The history of the Red Ensign is intertwined with the history of the Australian National flag. From 1901 to 1954 the Red Ensign was in practice, used as Australia's Civil Flag, i.e. the flag to be flown by private citizens on land. The Blue Ensign was for Government use only, reflecting British practice with its ensigns.

The design of the Australian Red Ensign was always kept in step with the Blue Ensign (i.e. with respect to the number of points on the stars, etc.) but there was often public confusion about which was the `correct' flag to fly. Many thought the choice was merely one of fashion or preference.

In 1941, Australia's Prime Minister Robert Menzies added to this confusion by directing that there should be no restriction on private citizens flying the Blue Ensign, though most people continued to use the red ensign. This Government consent was reaffirmed by Prime Minister Ben Chifley in February 1947. However, the confusion really wasn't ended until the Flags Act 1953 (enacted in 1954) gave legal effect to this directive, with the Red Ensign becoming reserved as the Civil Ensign.

This historic 'Sydney' flag has been adopted as our Museum House Flag following proposals made by museum member Phil Crocker who was intrigued and impressed on sighting it on two special occasions and recalled seeing it illustrated in an historic publication in one of our museum showcases.

First sighting was on what proved to be its initial flying in recent times, when, during the 1980 visit to Sydney by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, it was flown in Martin Place by the Council of the City of Sydney, as a decorative flag, on the recommendation of Commander Leonard E. Forsythe B.E.M.

The second occasion was on January 18th, 1981, when observing the progress of the museum's hulk James Craig under tow into Sydney Harbour, this 'Sydney' flag was seen being worn for'ard as a house flag, along with the Australian Red Ensign aft - both on temporary masts for the occasion.

The publication illustrating this 'Sydney' flag, in a chart of proposed maritime flags by Captain John Nicholson R.N., Harbour Master at the time, is the "New South Wales Calender and Post Office Directory" of 1832.

Part of this flag chart was reproduced in colour and, together with an article by vexillologist John Vaughan entitled "A Port of Flags" was published in the Maritime Services Board Journal "Ports of New South Wales" of June 1981. John has explained that research has not revealed any evidence that this 'Sydney' Flag had been taken up officially.

However, another flag proposed in the same chart, as the 'N.S.W. Ensign' was later published as such - no longer proposed - and was flown in the Port of Sydney and throughout New South Wales and many other parts of Australia for more than 70 years when in the 1890's, this N.S.W. Ensign was renamed the Australian Federation Flag and was used as late as the 1920's.

The basic design and form in which the 'Sydney' Flag depicts the Southern Cross, as also in other early flags of the Colony commencing with the National Colonial Flag for Australia of the early 1820's which design was based on the White Ensign of the Royal Navy, was an important influence on the present official badge of the State of New South Wales.

The sailing vessel, in the first canton of the 'Sydney' Flag that we now adopt as our House Flag, represents H.M. Bark Endeavour from which Captain James Cook, in sailing past from Botany Bay in 1770, named this port as Port Jackson.

The unique combination of both the historic and maritime aspects of this previously unclaimed 'Sydney' Flag, as proposed in the early 1830's to represent the Port of Sydney, makes it deserving of a home. It is therefore, most appropriate that it has now been adopted as the House Flag of the Sydney Maritime Museum.

Long may it serve to commemorate the maritime history of Sydney.

This was the house flag of the Dunlop Line. Thomas Dunlop had the Clan Macleod (later James Craig) built for addition to his fleet in 1874.

Cameron House Flag

This was the house flag of the Cameron Line. Thomas Dunlop sold the Clan Macleod to Sir Roderick Cameron in 1887, who again sold it to JJ Craig in 1900.

This is the house flag of the J. J. Craig Shipping Line.

The James Craig, like most vessels, did not have her own unique flag.