Foreign Minister Tsahkna receives historic Estonian flag relic in Sydney

During his official visit to Australia, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna received a historic Estonian flag relic at the Estonian House in Sydney on March 10th. The flag, which is over 80 years old, will now be taken to the Estonian National Museum in Tartu.

The flag was rescued in Estonia around 21 September 1944, when a young Estonian man, Eugen Vilder, climbed to the top of the flagpole at Kadriorg Palace together with a young soldier and saved the Estonian flag from falling into the hands of Soviet forces. The Estonian flag flew in Kadriorg in 1944 for only a few days during the government of Otto Tief. It is not known who had raised the flag on the Kadriorg Palace flagpole for that brief moment.

„Eugen Vilder’s act of rescuing the flag is yet another story that is quintessentially Estonian, showing how important our national symbols — such as the blue, black and white flag — have always been to us throughout history. The young man took a great risk in taking the Estonian flag down from the mast and, in order to save it, wrapped it around his body, concealed it beneath his clothing, and carried it with him when he fled the turmoil of war from Tallinn together with his mother and younger sister,” Tsahkna said. „The flag eventually made its way to Australia in 1949, via Germany. Eugen Vilder kept the flag in his possession until his death in 2021, and it was discovered at his home in Australia by his heirs last August.” Today the flag was ceremonially handed over to Foreign Minister Tsahkna, who will take it to the Estonian National Museum in Tartu.

During his visit to Sydney, the foreign minister also visited the Estonian archive located in the Estonian House, where valuable work has been done for 70 years to preserve the history of Estonians in Australia, and met with the Estonian community. Australia is home to the seventh-largest Estonian community abroad, with around 11,500 people of Estonian origin, in addition to about 1,500 young people on Working Holiday visas. The largest Estonian community in Australia lives in the state of New South Wales, where, according to the 2021 census, there are 4,265 people of Estonian origin.

“The Sydney Estonian Society celebrates its centenary this year, and it is a tremendous joy to mark the occasion with a visit to the Sydney Estonian House, the first building constructed outside Estonia specifically for Estonian community activities and where Estonian community life continues to thrive today,” said Tsahkna. “Every Estonian in Australia is like an ambassador for Estonia, helping to expand our network of friends by sharing stories about our country.” The plot for the Sydney Estonian House was purchased in 1938, and construction of the building began in the same year. In the main hall of the Sydney Estonian House hangs a large Kalevipoeg panel painted by the renowned Estonian diaspora artist Gunnar Neeme.

Today in Sydney the foreign minister also met Ben Franklin, President of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, and Greg Piper, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The foreign minister expressed his gratitude for the fact that the state’s policies have enabled the local Estonian community to preserve its language and culture for decades. The meeting also included an in-depth discussion of security in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region, as well as economic cooperation.

“Many Estonian companies entering the Australian market or wishing to operate in the Pacific region start precisely in Sydney,” said Tsahkna. Promoting economic cooperation between Estonia and Australia was also discussed at a reception of the Estonian-Australian Chamber of Commerce held today.

As part of the visit, the foreign minister laid a wreath at the memorial to the antisemitic terrorist attack that took place at Bondi Beach late last year.

The Foreign Minister will have meetings in Canberra tomorrow and the following day.

Photos and videos of the presentation of the flag relic and of the foreign minister’s visit to Australia.