Flying and Storing the Flag

FLYING AND STORING THE FLAG

The New South Wales Government encourages private individuals, companies and organisations to fly the State flag. We have provided procedures for flying the NSW flag alone or with the national flag and other flags or pennants.

In front of a building with one flagpole with cross arms
The Australian national flag is flown from the halyard on the left of the observer facing the building. The NSW flag is flown from the right halyard. OR The Australian national flag is flown from the masthead. The NSW flag is flown from the halyard on the left of the observer facing the building. A house flag or club pennant is flown from the right pennant.

On or in front of a building with two flagpoles of equal height
The Australian national flag is flown on the flagpole on the left of the observer facing the building. The NSW flag of the same size is flown on the flagpole on the right.

On or in front of a building with three flagpoles of equal height
The Australian national flag is flown on the flagpole on the left of the observer facing the building. Another appropriate national flag is flown on the centre flagpole. The NSW flag is flown on the flagpole on the right. OR The Australian national flag is flown on the flagpole on the left of the observer facing the building. The NSW flag is flown on the centre flagpole and the house flag or club pennant is flown on the right.

When displayed against a wall
The top left quarter of the flag is placed uppermost on the observer's left.

When displayed from cross-staffs
The Australian national flag should be on the left of the observer facing the flags. The staff should be in front of the staff of the NSW flag.

• National flags of sovereign nations should be flown on separate staff and at the same height. If possible, they should all be the same size. The Australian flag should be hoisted first and lowered last.
• The flag should always be flown or displayed in a dignified manner. It should not be used to unveil a monument or used to cover a table.
• Avoid flying more than one flag from the same halyard.
• On United Nations Day (24 October) if only one position is available, the United Nations flag should be flown.

Half-masting the flag
Flags are flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning. The flag is brought to a half-mast position by first raising it to the masthead and immediately lowering it slowly to the half-mast position. The flag should be raised again to the top before being lowered for the day.

The position of the flag at half-mast will depend on the size of the flag and the length of the flagpole. A satisfactory position for half masting is normally when the top of the flag is one-third of the distance from the top.

Storing your flag
Unless properly illuminated, flags should be lowered no later than sunset and stored.

Folding your NSW flag

1. Start with the flag flat with the Union Jack in the bottom left hand corner
2. Fold it lengthwise once and then once again
3. Bring the two ends together
4. Now concertina by folding backwards and forwards until it is neatly bundled
5. It is kept bundled by winding the rope around it

Special occasions on which the flag should be flown

In addition, flags are flown on special occasions such as royal visits and at half-mast for state funerals and funerals of Heads of State of other countries.