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Many Brisbane residents might not even know the city has its own flag and coat of arms. But for some, its existence evokes strong feelings.
Both symbols use the same blue, yellow and white colour scheme, and incorporate pretzel-like “Stafford” knots, stars and the caducei emblem.
These are thought to represent the commercial history of the city, and achievements in astronomy of its namesake Sir Thomas Brisbane.
“Neither … reflects who we are today,” a petition lodged with Brisbane City in December by Annerley resident Lily Betzien said. It had just eight supporting signatures and received minimal attention at the time it was published.
The petition asked the local government to initiate a public review process to consider designs that better represented the city in the 21st century.
A koala, green tree frog and Brisbane wattle were suggested as possible new symbols.
“With the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games approaching … this is an ideal opportunity to ensure our civic symbols genuinely represent our city, our environment, and our diverse community,” the petition continued.
“These designs should ideally recognise the connection of First Nations peoples to this land and incorporate native Australian fauna and flora that reflect Brisbane’s natural character.
“They should present a contemporary, inclusive identity rather than relying on imagery from a European heraldic tradition with little relevance to place.”
The Brisbane coat of arms was introduced in 1925. The flag followed a couple of decades later, and is flown every day at City Hall, Anzac Square and King George Square.
Tony Burton, a flag expert who edits the journal Crux Australis, said similar efforts to have civic symbols reconsidered have gained traction across Europe and Australia.
“They are feudal, they are out of date. They are kowtowing to aristocracies. They’re complicated … it’s all very English,” he told this masthead.
“The question is, those who want to change it, what are they proposing instead?”
He acknowledged some residents might have mixed feelings about its symbolism, but said Brisbane’s flag was among the best designed in Australia.
“It is just terrific. It’s splendid … the symmetry, the harmony, the historicity … it has presence,” Burton added.
“It is very complicated, I’ll admit, and therefore probably expensive to make but it is heraldic.
“If Brisbanites think it’s time to move on to something that’s got pineapples all over it or whatever then [OK], but what will come out of is probably a lot of extremely bad vexillology because there are things you can do with flags and things [where] you end up with a mess of porridge on the floor.”
Petition creator Betzien could not be contacted, but councillor Nicole Johnston – who represents most of Annerley – said she understood why there were contrasting views on the symbols.
“Brisbane’s flag is really unique and it has a diverse range of elements representing our local environment and history,” she said.
“It’s always good to look at whether it’s still relevant to our community, but the flag does have meaning for our city’s identity.”
The lord mayor did not comment on the proposal, but the finance and city governance committee made its view clear.
It said no other Australian capital city has undertaken a formal change or replacement of its flag.
“Implementing a redesign to both the coat of arms and flag would necessitate extensive updates to council assets, with ratepayers bearing the costs for a change that offers little practical benefit,” a response published on the council website said.
“As such, changes to the Brisbane Coat of Arms and flag cannot be reasonably justified.”
The City of Sydney previously initiated a review of its flag, and in 2024 Lord Mayor Clover Moore described it as “problematic.”
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