Sydney, Jun. 19, (dpa/GNA) - The Aboriginal flag is set to have a permanent spot on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the New South Wales government said on Sunday.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said that the 2022-23 budget included a 25-million-Australian-dollar commitment (17 million US dollars) to fund the permanent installation of a third flagpole to fly the Aboriginal Flag above the iconic bridge alongside the Australian and state flags by the end of 2022.
“Our Indigenous history should be celebrated and acknowledged so young Australians understand the rich and enduring culture that we have here with our past,” Perrottet said in a statement.
“Installing the Aboriginal flag permanently on the Sydney Harbour Bridge will do just that and is a continuation of the healing process as part of the broader move towards reconciliation.”
NSW Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the bridge is an appropriate landmark for the Aboriginal Flag to be displayed, calling it a “momentous occasion in NSW history.”
“Bounded by the Countries of Cammeraygal and Gadigal clan groups, the bridge connects our city, north and south, providing a crucial link to thousands of commuters and sightseers every day,” Ward said.
The flags on Sydney Harbour Bridge approximately measure 9 by 4.5 metres while the flagpoles are about 20-metre high, roughly the same height as a six-storey building.
The Aboriginal flag was designed by artist Harold Thomas in the 1970s.
It is divided horizontally into equal halves of black and red with a yellow circle in the centre. The black symbolizes Aboriginal people, the yellow represents the sun and the red depicts the earth and peoples’ relationship to the land.
The Australian government recognized it as an official flag in 1995.
GNA