Australian children's classic Blinky Bill is making an unlikely comeback, flexing his stuff on the arms of tattooed biceps and triceps.
The region's tattoo artists have reported a considerable drop in demand for the Southern Cross, which peaked following the Cronulla race riots of December 2005 and ensuing Australia Day celebrations that were marred by yobbo behaviour and violence.
In its place sees the less rebellious Blinky Bill, jars of Vegemite and the Holden ute.
Cultural researcher Dr Clif Evers said the shift was in line with his belief that the aggressive displays of patriotism on Australia Day had peaked.
"I believe we are seeing an easing off of that explicit nationalism, to more popular cultural references," he said.
"People will still want to express their belonging, but not in such aggressive fashion."
Dr Evers, of the University of NSW, said symbols such as the Southern Cross flag had been "hijacked" in recent years by individuals wanting to assert their heritage.
"It's been a way for certain young people to show their belonging through their flesh.
"They used to be able to do it through the colour of their skin but with the increase in multiculturalism, they've felt the need to make it far more explicit."
Sue Rand, manager of Rand Family Tattoo and Body Piercing at Windang, has been in the industry for two decades and said the Australian identity tattoos in general had only come into mainstream popularity in the past few years.
Mick Hall, owner of Kinetic Art Tattoo Studio in Unanderra, said he was thankful demand for the Southern Cross had fallen off.
"For a while there, we had tonnes of requests for the Southern Cross," he said.
He now has several customers working on Australian pop art tattoo "sleeves", featuring everything from Hills Hoists to dingoes with babies in their mouths.
Jason Birch, 21, of Corrimal has just started his sleeve, beginning with Blinky Bill and a wombat road sign, with plans for a box of Redhead matches, a Holden ute, a penny, the rising sun and Norman Gunston. He has also included the Southern Cross.
However he said the symbols were more a statement of his personality than an assertion of his Anglo-Saxon heritage.
"I just thought it was something different," he said.
"But since I've started getting the tattoos, I've noticed a lot of other people with the same thing."
Jason Coulton of Dapto had the stars of the Southern Cross tattooed on his left leg on Thursday.
The 18-year-old's inspiration was a combination of patriotism and a tribute to his late uncle, Paul Robinson, who died of a heart attack on Australia Day last year.
"It was for my uncle Paul, but I'm still a pretty proud Australian," he said.
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