Melbourne's West Gate Bridge will permanently fly an Aboriginal flag by the end of NAIDOC Week, following a similar move for the Sydney Harbour Bridge revealed last month.
Within a few days, the Aboriginal flag will permanently fly atop the West Gate Bridge, acknowledging its importance as a symbol of unity, identity and resilience for First Peoples across Victoria.
Since 2019, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags have flown on a rotational basis on the West Gate Bridge during Reconciliation and NAIDOC weeks. But at the end of this year’s NAIDOC week – the final day being this Sunday 10 July – the Aboriginal Flag will remain in place on the bridge, replacing Victoria’s state flag.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
On Monday this week, Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll and Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Gabrielle Williams announced the new flag arrangements for the West Gate Bridge with permission from Traditional Owners – signifying Victoria’s commitment to acknowledging and celebrating First Peoples’ history, heritage and culture.
“The West Gate Bridge is one of our most visible landmarks – now, the thousands of motorists who use the bridge every day can view the Aboriginal flag flying proudly above our city,” says Carroll.
“We are continuing work looking at how we can also fly the Torres Strait Islander and Victorian State flags above the West Gate Bridge at some point in the future.”
Work is underway to identify the feasibility and requirements of flying the Torres Strait Islander and Victorian State flags alongside the Aboriginal and Australian flags. This work will take into consideration current flag protocols, as well as the structural, safety and maintenance requirements of the West Gate Bridge.
Located on Bunurong Country, the West Gate Bridge is one of the state’s most important assets, and the flags flown are some of the largest in the country.
The flying of the Aboriginal Flag is another recognising and celebrating First Peoples and Traditional Owners as the custodians of the land and waters in Victoria.
The Labor Government is continuing to partner with First Peoples in Victoria and Victorian Traditional Owners on its path to Treaty and truth, having established the Yoorrook Justice Commission and working with the First Peoples’ Assembly on the foundations of Australia’s first Treaty.
“The Aboriginal flag signifies unity, identity and resilience for Aboriginal people. We are very proud that we can now fly this important symbol above Melbourne,” says Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Gabrielle Williams.
“Flying the flag follows our ongoing partnership with the First Peoples of Victoria on our path to Treaty and truth.”
This move by the Victorian Government follows that from the NSW Government. The Aboriginal flag will have a permanent spot on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with the New South Wales government committing $25m to install a third flagpole by the end of the year.
You can read the announcement here.
