Flag of Solomon Islands

In 1886, Germany and Britain agreed to partition the Solomon Islands archipelago, with Britain to assume control of the southern section. This southern area later became the sovereign nation of Solomon Islands.[1] Seven years later, in 1893, Britain declared this area a British protectorate.[2] At the turn of the 20th century, Germany gave up their northern part to Britain in exchange for Britain's acceptance of German claims over German Samoa and areas in Africa.[1] During this time, the British Union Jack and Red Ensign were flown throughout the Solomon Islands archipelago, as well as a Blue Ensign, defaced with the protectorate's name and the monarch's crown within the Solomon Islands Protectorate.[3]

In 1947, a new flag for the protectorate was introduced featuring a red field charged with a black-and-white sea turtle. Nine years later in 1956, this had to be modified because the turtle was a motif affiliated only with Central Province. The revised version of 1956 saw the field divided quarterly and displaying a lion for Britain and an eagle, a turtle, a frigate bird and assorted weapons from the region for the five provinces.[3]

In 1975, during the lead up to independence, a contest was held to design a new flag for the future country.[3][4] One of the submissions contained the nation's coat of arms,[3] while the initial winning design had a blue field with a yellow circle, encompassed with chains and charged with a black frigate bird.[4] However, this was eventually rescinded, since this bird was attributed to only one province as opposed to the entire country. The second winning design included a red field charged with a black elliptical chain at the centre. As explained by the artist, this alluded to the historical practice of blackbirding in the country and the "blood spilt" as a result of it. After it was published in a national newspaper, the design stirred up much debate in the community and it too was scrapped.[4]

Ultimately, the last design was created by a New Zealander then teaching at the King George VI School,[4] in the eastern part of the capital Honiara.[5] This was in spite of the fact that preference was supposed to be given to local submissions by Solomon Islanders.[4] It was ratified as the new flag of the islands on 18 November 1977, eight months before the country became the final British protectorate to gain independence.[3][6][7]

The Union Jack was finally lowered and the new flag raised in an Independence Day ceremony on 7 July 1978 in Gizo, Western Province. Although the ceremony had already been designed to be as low key as possible, it was marked by controversy and a confrontation between locals from Western Province and those from Malaita Province.[8] This arose because leaders from the Western Council had unsuccessfully lobbied the government to promise greater devolved powers to the provinces,[8] and some of the province's inhabitants viewed the flag ceremony as a demonstration of "Malaitan dominance" over Western Province.[9]

Since 2012, the Solomon Islands flag may be used as a flag of convenience by foreign merchant vessels under an Act made by the country's National Parliament.[10] The government hoped to attract over US$500,000 in annual tax revenues from this and the transport minister claimed that this would also give local sailors new employment opportunities and the potential to earn foreign exchange.[10]

The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The blue evokes the water,[3][6] as well as its significance to the country in the form of rivers, rain, and the Pacific Ocean.[3][11][12] The green alludes to the land,[6][11] along with the trees and crops that grow on it.[3] The yellow epitomizes the sun and its rays separating the land and the ocean.[3][12]

The five stars are arranged in three offset rows at the canton, in the shape of the letter X.[11] At first, these were meant to symbolize the provinces that the country was subdivided into at the time of independence. Even though new provinces have since been created, the number of stars has remained unchanged.[3][6]

The 'Southern Horizon' design, a proposed alternative to the current flag of Australia.

One of the various proposed alternatives to the present flag of Australia is an emblem labelled the 'Southern Horizon'. Having been voted as the favourite in an unofficial poll of more than 8,000 people, its blue, gold, and green colour scheme – together with its depiction of the Southern Cross – is noted for its conspicuous resemblance to that of the Solomon Islander flag.[13]