A century-old red Australian flag, hand-made by women in Nowra and carried by the South Coast Waratahs during a 100-kilometre march to Sydney for World War I enlistment in 1915, has been restored and is now displayed at Nowra Museum.
A Symbol of Sacrifice Restored
The flag, an Australian red ensign, was restored by textile conservator Tess Evans, who received a federal grant for the work. Evans humidified the flag, removed stains, and stitched a backing sheet to support damaged areas. The restoration took approximately 30 hours.
According to Lynne Allen, president of the Shoalhaven Historical Society, the flag is symbolic of World War I and the sacrifice of local young men.
Historical Significance
Shane Casey, Military Heraldry and Technology Curator at the Australian War Memorial, noted that the flag dates from 1901 to 1903, featuring a six-pointed Commonwealth star and Southern Cross stars. The Flag Act of 1953 established the blue ensign as the national flag, but the red ensign was commonly used previously.