Eureka Britannia: Civic republicanism and the politics of rebellion in the British world

On 3 December 2004, the Eureka flag- the first design to be called the Australian flag - flew proudly over all State and Territory parliament buildings, dozens of town halls and over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Despite public enthusiasm, the sesquicentennial celebrations did not see the Eureka flag fly over the federal parliament in Canberra. Prime Minister and devout monarchist John Howard had little interest in remembering a failed rebellion just five years after a republican referendum was narrowly rejected.