Australia's Flag Day Blunder: NZ Flag Flown by Mistake

The event marked 125 years since the Australian flag was first flown, with 44 flags meant to be raised over Capital Hill. However, only 42 Australian flags went up — the other two were the near-identical New Zealand flag, as reported by 7 News. The blunder was quickly spotted and the two rogue flags were replaced.

The current Australian flag was first flown above the dome of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne on 3 September 1901, according to a statement from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Since then, 3 September has been known as Flag Day. Its design was chosen from more than 32,000 entries, beating one showing animals playing cricket with a winged ball and another with a kangaroo pointing a gun at the Southern Cross. It did not become the official flag until 1954. New Zealand adopted its design, also featuring the Union Jack and some stars, in 1902.