A new survey has identified the design many Aussies would like to replace our current national flag.

According to the study, conducted by Dr Benjamin T. Jones from Western Sydney University, 64 per cent of 8140 respondents feel we should change our national flag.

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The current design is often criticised for its inclusion of the Union Jack, which many feel does not adequately express our independence from England.

The design (known as the ‘Blue Ensign’) officially became our national flag in 1954 after it was first selected as part of a design competition in 1901.

Dr Jones’ survey proposed six alternative designs to the current flag, allowing respondents to vote on their favourite option.

The most popular choice was a design known as the ‘Southern Horizon’, which claimed 31 per cent of the vote.

The ‘Southern Horizon’ flag.

The ‘Southern Horizon’ mainly differs from the current design due to its removal of the Union Jack.

The second most popular option was the ‘Reconciliation Flag’, which combined the Southern Cross constellation with a boomerang design serving as a nod to the indigenous people.

“Those who support a new Australian flag design fall primarily into two categories; those who want a neutral design with some link to the current flag, and those who want a completely new design with specific recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Dr Jones said.

The ‘Reconciliation’ flag.

While 8,140 people took part in the survey, only 6,427 choose a favourite alternative design, with the non-votes counted as protest votes to keep the current flag.

The third most popular flag option was the Eureka Flag, which scored 15 per cent of the vote, and was originally used as a war flag during the Eureka Stockade in 1854.