Norfolk Island was first sighted by James Cook in 1774 during his second voyage to the southern Pacific Ocean.

Cook surmised that the Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) could be utilised for the masts of ships, but his prediction ultimately did not come to fruition.

[4] The bill that became the Norfolk Island Flag and Public Seal Act 1979 was introduced to the Australian Parliament that same year and received royal assent on 17 January 1980.

The act specifies Pantone Matching System 356 for the green of the flag, without giving any further detail on the white.

Both banners employ only two colours in a vertical triband design and feature a regional arboreal symbol in the middle band.