Sydney - Australia

Sydney is the oldest and largest city of Australia, founded in 1788 and with an population of around 5.2 million. Before Europeans came the area was inhabited by Aboriginal tribes for more than 40,000 years, most traces of these people are erased but at least there are still rock paintings at various locations. In 1770 captain James Cook discovered Botany Bay (now an neighborhood in South Sydney) that get the interest of the British. The British government send Arthur Phillips in 1788 to that area, to start an penal colony and named it New Albion which quickly changed to Sydney. Arthur Phillips named it at after Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney who send him to Australia. Slowly the penal colony turns in an regular colony especially after the gold rush of 1851 which attracted many immigrants. What also works is that Sydney have the largest natural harbor in the world. Nowadays it is one of the iconic cities on the globe with many things to do, no dull moment promised. So let's take an look at the flag.

This flag has to much things on it and let start in the upper left part. That part with the shells and crescent are the coat of arms of Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney. Next to it the English Naval Flag to acknowledges the role Arthur Phillip played in Sydney's foundation. An globe and two stars overlaid the cross is posthumous arms of captain James Cook who mapped Australia. Finally in the top right is the coat of arms of the first Lord Mayor of Sydney, Thomas Hughes who served his 1st term in 1903. His second term was in 1906 to 1908 and this flag came in 1908 coincidentally in use, maybe something to do with conflict of interest? At the bottom an field with an yellow and blue vertical stripe with centered an ship under full sail. That symbolize Sydney as a maritime port. This flag is actually an stretched out version of the old coat of arms of Sydney. I have two words for this flag, to busy. The lower half with the ship is enough, but in any case an redesign is needed.