Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Wentworth and Bland election banner, 1843

Wentworth and Bland election banner, 1843

Embroidered silk banner

LR 3a


This banner was probably created for Australia’s first ‘national’ political elections held on 15 June 1843. Wentworth and Bland successfully stood on a joint ticket for election to the two seats in the Sydney electorate. They campaigned using a white embroidered election banner with the slogan ‘Australia’s Hope and Sydney’s Pride’.  The basic design of this banner with a Union canton and a design in the fly, was the forerunner format for future British colonial flags here in Australia.  

Ralph Bartlett (President, Flags Australia)


Hand stitched with love

By Avryl Whitnall, 2015

The hand stitched ‘B’ on the blue silk bow at the bottom left edge of the banner indicates that a lot of pride and effort went into the production of this banner. There is also a hand stitched ‘W’ on the white silk bow near the ‘W’ of Wentworth, although it is hidden by the fall of the loop.



Two large eight-pointed stars

It is interesting that the flag included two large eight-pointed stars, presumably to symbolise these two star candidates.