An Australian merchant ensign, in the 1909 pattern, made of wool bunting, with a linen hoist stamped 'AUSTRALIA 1 1/2 YDS'. It is machine sewn at the ends with a printed design and a rope attached for hoisting.

In 1901 the six colonies that made up the Australian continent combined to form a federal national state. There was an official competition to design a national flag. There was no outright winner but a consensus emerged that the flag should contain the Union Flag, the Southern Cross constellation and a six-pointed star representing the six colonies. After the acquisition of Papua New Guinea in 1905 an extra point was added to the star in 1909.