Victoria, 1877

The first flag of Victoria was adopted on 4 February 1870 when it became the first Australian colony to acquire a warship, the HMVS Nelson, and was first flown from it on 9 February 1870, a requirement to distinguish it from other British ships. It was a defaced British Blue Ensign with the Southern Cross located in the fly, its stars having 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 points, depicting their respective brilliance in the sky, with each of the stars having one point pointing to the bottom of the flag. There was also a similar red ensign, incorrectly used by civil vessels.