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# Australian Coal and Iron Ore Community Flag

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Last modified: 2026-04-04 by ian macdonald
Keywords: australia |
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image by Col Randall, 26 August 2010

- Description of the flag

See also:

- Australia
- Index of Australian flag pages

## Description of the flag

In an attempt to unite the country the new Australian Coal and Iron Ore Community flag was born. The country can unite behind this flag because all the productive parts of Australia are represented.
Symbolism.
The Australian Coal and Iron Ore Community flag is black (coal) and red (iron ore), with a yellow star for each state/territory that mines coal (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania) and iron ore (Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Northern Territory and New South Wales).
Since iron ore is mostly found on the surface and open-cut mined, and coal is deeper underground - let's have the red stripe on top and the black on the bottom, and have the stars upside down, since we're Down Under.
The reason for the 5-pointed star is the recognized five stages in all mining projects:
Stage 1 - Enthusiasm
Stage 2 - Disillusionment
Stage 3 - Search for the culprit
Stage 4 - Punish the innocent
Stage 5 - Reward the non-participants
The Flag
The Flag Institute of UK has recognized the design and it will be featured in its next issue of Flagmaster. The flag design has also been a matter of considerable discussion within the Flag Society of Australia.
Background to the design
The precedence for the design is the original European Coal and Steel Community flag of Blue on Black with six gold stars. This flag changed and became the European Economic Community flag of blue with twelve gold stars in a circle.
Vexillographer - Flag designer
Col Randall BE( Mining) FAusIMM CP
Newcastle Convenor of the Flag Society of Australia
First Floor
42 King Street
Newcastle
NSW 2300