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Perth (Western Australia)

image by Eugene Ipavec and Ian MacDonald, 24 January 2008, 28 June 2015

Official City of Perth Flag
Other flags used by the city
- City crest on red flag

See also:

Official City of Perth Flag

I found a description of the flag of the City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia. The document is from 16 June 1975 [reviewed/amended in 1992, 1998 and 2006 - ed.]. The PDF file is found on the Council website.

2. Official City of Perth Flag
2.1 The official City of Perth flag has a red cross of Saint George on a white background with the City’s Coat-of-Arms superimposed in the centre of the cross.

2.2 The official City of Perth Flag is to be flown during working hours from the flag post at the front of Council House and is to be displayed at civic and ceremonial functions such as Council meetings, citizenship ceremonies and civic receptions.

2.3 Subject to Part 2.4 below, any person may fly the City of Perth flag, in the same way as they may use the Australian or Western Australian flags.

2.4 The official City of Perth flag is not to be used by any person for election purposes.

Valentin Poposki, 23 January 2008

There is no mention of the size of the arms on the flag, however clause 1.1 of the policy document would seem to be intended to define the term "Coat-of-Arms" as used in the description of the flag. It says:

"The City of Perth Coat-of-Arms includes the original 'Arms and Supporters' granted by Patent of the Kings of Arms dated 2 December 1926 and the additional 'Arms and Supporters' incorporating the Arms of Perth, Scotland dated 27 November 1948. Although the motto "Floreat" in the scroll below the shield is not part of the official grant of Arms, it is considered to be part of the City of Perth's Coat-of-Arms."

Jonathan Dixon, 25 January 2008

The flag in actual use is white with a red cross and the town's greater arms enclosed in a red ring placed in the middle of the flag, as shown on a photo of the flag published in the "Brisbane Times", 5 April 2012.

The arms of Perth are:
"Argent a Cross Gules, in the first quarter a Swan Sable upon water proper, and in the fourth quarter on an Escutcheon Gules within a double Tressure counter flory a Holy Lamb passant regardant, staff and cross Argent with the banner of St Andrew proper, the whole ensigned with a Mural Crown Or; and for the supporters: on either side a Swan wings elevated Sable, beaked and legged Gules, and gorged round the neck with a Mural Crown Or; and for the motto: FLOREAT."

The shield of the arms contains the red cross of St. George as shown on the flag of England. The top, left quarter of the shield and the supporters are black swans which are common to the area and significant to the original name of the Swan River Colony. Black swans are also shown on the Western Australian arms and flag. The fourth quarter of the shield is taken from the arm of Perth, Scotland, the city after which Perth is named. The helm is a gold brickwork crown, indicating these arms are for a municipality, and the supporting swans wear similar crowns around their necks. The motto, Floreat, is Latin for 'flourish' or 'prosper'.

Quotes from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Perth,_Western_Australia
Ivan Sache, 24 April 2012

Here is a photo with the flags flying in the wind: https://studiaphotos.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/ch02.jpg?w=562.
Zoran Vukojevic, 28 June 2015

Other flags used by the City

It is worth noting that the second objective of the policy document¹ is "To distinguish the official City of Perth flag from other flags that may be used by the City from time to time."

Clause 3.2 says:

It is recognised that a marketing flag has been produced to assist in promoting the City and also a commemorative flag that was used for the launch of the Perth Town Hall, however these two flags are not the official flag of the City of Perth and are not to be used for official ceremonial functions of the City.

The previous clause (3.1) states that the CEO may approve the use of the "crest" on other banners and flags.
Jonathan Dixon, 25 January 2008

City Crest on red flag

image by Eugene Ipavec, 26 Jan 2008
Constructed from a single photograph.

On the Webshots website is a photograph, labelled "City of Perth flag", said to have been taken in January 2005. As you can see, it is quite different to the official flag, although it is most probably one of the two other flags described under Clause 3.2 of Policy 3.1.

It is a stylised representation of the coat of arms depicted in the document, on a red background with a white fimbriation. Additionally, there is a fairly thick white line to the right of the coat of arms, near the fly. Under the coat of arms, are the words "CITY" (capitalised) "of" (italicised) "PERTH" (capitalised). It is possible that the capitalised letters are also italicised, but it is not really possible to assess.

Without further corroborative evidence, it is difficult to say for certain, but I should think this is the rendition on a flag of the following:

The City of Perth Crest is the corporate image of the City of Perth. It incorporates the City of Perth's Coat-of-Arms, with a partial frame to the top and right of the Coat-of-Arms and the words "City of Perth" underneath in partial italics.

from Policy 3.1¹, so it is possible that the thick white line could be at the top of the coat of arms, too.
Colin Dobson, 24 January 2008

Sources: ¹ City of Perth, Policy Manual, Policy Number 3.1, Coat-of-arms (Council Crest) and "City of Perth" Title - use of, File number P1014560, 16 June 1975 as reviewed 06 June 2006, consulted City of Perth web site, 24 January 2008.