The next Plant Recognition Group workshop will focus on local native wattle trees and shrubs (family Mimosaceae) that flower during winter.
Dr Suzette Searle (President Wattle Day Association Inc.) will host a presentation on the main identification features and will have selected samples on display. Booking ESSENTIAL: Please send your name and phone number to plantname@friendsanbg.org.au
Acacia baileyana (Cottamundra Wattle) – a common sight around Canberra
Public Lecture: Wattle in Coin Design
The Mint explores the use of Golden Wattle, the National Floral Emblem, in its coin design.
Australia has thousands of plant species with unique and stunning flowers. One in particular has found its way into the designs of a number of significant coins and medallions, through Stuart Devlin’s designs for the medals of the Australian Honours System. Dr Suzette Searle, President of the Wattle Day Association, will present a brief history of wattle on coins, and chat afterwards in the Royal Australian Mint’s new exhibition REFLECTION: 50 Years of the Australian Honours System.
When: 15 August 2025 Time: 2pm – 3pm Cost: Free but bookings essential Where: Royal Australian Mint (check in at the Welcome Desk)
Wattle Walks with the Friends
🏵️Celebrate the vibrant spirit of spring with during the Week of the Wattle!
The Gardens grows about 400 different wattle species from all over Australia – an amazing feat in Canberra’s varied climate.
Australian National Botanic Gardens is hosting a guided walk to celebrate National Wattle Day (1 September). Join us on this free guided walk “Wattle We Call It?” to hear about some of these paradoxes while visiting a variety of wattles in flower at this time of the year.
📆 1 September to 7 September 2025
⏱️11:00am & 2:00pm daily
📍Meet at the flag near the Café bridge.
No booking required for individuals but groups of more than six people should contact walks@friendsanbg.org.au a week before the planned walk.
Acacia beckleri at the ANBG (15 August 2024)
Wattle Day Give-Away for schools by the ACT Government
Be a part of Australia’s National Wattle Day activities and help support local biodiversity and add interest in your school ground.
Free wattles available for public schools of the ACT who need to email tccs.planting@act.gov.au before Thursday 21 August 2025 to register their
interest. Plants will be available for collection Friday 29 August 2025. Further details for collection will be provided upon registration.
Lisa Burgstaller and the Urban Treescapes Program team ready to give away wattle seedlings at Yarralumla Nursery
When: Friday 29 August 2025
Where: Outside the ACT Yarralumla Nursery from 8.30 onwards. Registration before 21 August 2025 is required
For a third year running the Urban Treescapes Program Team in collaboration with the Yarralumla Nursery is giving away wattles for planting around ACT’s public schools. In 2024 more than 800 seedlings of different wattles were given away to 38 schools in celebration of Australia’s National Wattle Day (1 September). These included the iconic Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) – Australia’s national floral emblem – that happens to be native to the ACT.
Drop by Wattle Corner in the Visitors Centre to hear about our national floral emblem and how wattle is part of Australia’s story.
The Wattle Day Association is hosting their annual ‘Wattle Corner’ at the Arboretum Visitors Centre to celebrate National Wattle Day. There will be some blooming wattle on display to smell and enjoy.
– Snap an insta-worthy photo at our wattle selfie-spot
Grow your own wattle at home: Wattle seed collected from the National Arboretum Canberra’s very own Golden Grove are available to purchase from The Curatoreum. Each packet of Golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha) seed has enough to grow 10 trees up to 8m tall.
Celebrate National Wattle Day with The Wattle Walk.
See more than ten types of beautiful wattles coming into bloom and hear stories about our national floral emblem on this special one hour guided Wattle Walk in Forest 20, the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP).
Meet your guide at the STEP flag near the main lower carpark.
You will need a water bottle, sturdy enclosed footwear and dress for the weather.
Jennie Widdowson (STEP) explaining a feature of blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
