Australian Capital Territory 2023

ACT City Services – Wattle Day Giveaway (28 & 29 August)
Urban Treescapes & Yarralumla Nursery

City Services will be planting the National Floral Emblem (Golden Wattle – Acacia pycnantha) and other wattles for National Wattle Day.

They are also making available hundreds of Golden Wattles to primary schools across the ACT  for planting on school grounds.

Acacia pycnantha planted at Gordan School 2023
This Acacia pycnantha was planted at Gordon Primary School in 2023

So far 38 schools have registered to receive these symbolic seedlings for their wide range of related activities such as:

Regenerating native gardens and bushlands on the school grounds
– School gardening clubs
– Preschool environment enhancement
– Improving biodiversity and connecting wildlife corridors
– Lots of working bees
– Maths garden project – interactive learning space focused on mathematics
– Improving wildlife corridors between schools and open spaces
– One school class name is now Gidya “wattle” in Wiradjuri language in celebration of National Wattle Day

Don’t forget to ‘Wattle up’ with flowers in your hair

Planting wattles at the Yarralumla Dog Park
for Wattle Day in 2022
Erin Nugent (Yarralumla Nursery) wearing wattle in her hair
From The Canberra Times: 
Students from Amaroo School – – Adelle, Maddy, Lucinda and Indiana – collect their wattle trees. Picture supplied

SCHOOLS GO YELLOW FOR WATTLE DAY

Yarralumla Nursery celebrated National Wattle Day by giving away 600 mixed wattle plants, grown by the nursery, to Canberra schools.

Amaroo School was one of 38 schools that registered to receive up to 20 free wattles to help regenerate their native gardens and bushlands on school grounds.”

Government House Canberra

Thursday 31 August 2023 – in the lead-up to National Wattle Day

10.00 – 11.30 am Ceremonial presentation of a basket of wattle to His Excellency General the Honourable David John Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley (nee McMartin) by students from St Clare of Assisi Primary School, on behalf of all the school children of Australia, a tree planting of Acacia pycnantha (Australia’s national floral emblem) and the singing of wattle songs by the ACT Primary Concert Choir conducted by Katharine Finlayson.

Australian National Botanic Gardens

Golden Wattle – 35th Anniversary of Australia’s national floral emblem

Friday 1 September – Golden Wattle Presentation – 11.00  am near the Bee House

Join in the celebration of National Wattle Day at the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) with the Wattle Day Association when it presents 35 seedlings of Golden Wattle – Acacia pycnantha – Australia’s national floral emblem – to the ANBG for all to enjoy.


Anthony Whelan, Acting Director of the Australian National Botanic Gardens at the 35th Anniversary celebration of the naming of Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle) as Australia’s national floral emblem.

Photo: ©S D Searle
Blake Kuiper
Blake Kuiper plants a Golden Wattle at the Friends’ Shelter at the ANBG
Photo: ©S D Searle
 

A Celebration of Wattles at the Botanic Gardens

Wattle Walks – — Meet at the clock near the bridge

Monday 4 – Thursday 10 September 2023
11.00 am–12.00 pm
& 2:00pm – 3:00pm

The Golden Wattle is Australia’s floral emblem; the first plant to emerge after the bombing of Hiroshima was a wattle; wattle seeds were an important food source for Indigenous people from inland Australia.

Learn some other interesting facts and hear stories about wattles on a free guided walk.

Meet at the clock near the 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.

 

The National Capital Authority lights up

The Captain Cook Memorial Jet, The John Gorton Building and Old Parliament House will light up in green and gold on National Wattle Day courtesy of the National Capital Authority.

National Carillon Canberra

©Howard Moffat

The Captain Cook Memorial Jet
Photo: Ben Appleton Photox – Canberra Photography Services

Here’s the NCA’s summary
of National Wattle Day events events in the national triangle.

QUESTCON

and the National Museum of Australia will light up in green and gold on National Wattle Day as will the Telstra Tower

 

ACT Government

The ACT Government is lighting up on the evening of Friday 1 September its light rail stops, the Canberra Times Fountain in Civic and the dramatically lit Malcolm Fraser Bridge (Pialligo Avenue – between the airport and the city).

Photo by ©Howard Moffat

 

ACT light rails stops (all 14)
will be lit in  green and gold on Friday 1 September

ACT Citizenship Ceremonies

Tuesday 5 September 2023 – two ceremonies

Albert Hall
100 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla ACT

‘Wattle welcome to Australia’s new citizens’

Terry Fewtrell (Wattle Day Association) will give a Wattle Welcome

Photo: Mark Tunningley

 

Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG)

Lunchtime Talk Thursday, 7 September 2023 – 12:30pm

 ‘Wattle days are here again’ Dr Suzette Searle


Suzette Searle all ‘wattled up’ with wattle badges and brooches

This talk gives a brief overview of initiatives and activities undertaken this century to establish National Wattle Day as a unifying celebration for all Australians when ‘we share the love we have for this magnificent country and the joy and privilege of being part of it’ (Dawn Waterhouse 2020)

Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CJTLQ

𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲? 😉
In the lead up to National Wattle Day on 1 September, we’ve got some activities for you to enjoy to make the most of this bright and blooming time of year!
🟡 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫
26 & 27 August 2023
Drop by Wattle Corner in the Village Centre between 10am-3pm to hear about the integral role of wattle in Australia’s history. Discover how wattle has woven itself into the fabric of our nation.
🟡 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞
26 & 27 August
Join Dr. Suzette Searle, President of the Wattle Day Association, for an enchanting talk in the midst of the blooming Golden Grove. Discover the captivating stories, beauty, and versatile uses of 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘺𝘤𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢 during this 30-minute talk.
🟡 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬
26 or 27 August, or 1 September
Embark on The Wattle Walk, a guided tour in Forest 20, the Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park (STEP). Witness over ten varieties of wattle in full bloom while hearing captivating stories about our national floral emblem.
Drop by the Information Desk in the Village Centre and pick up a Wattle Day flyer. It has everything you need to know about where to find Wattle at the Arboretum.

Past events in 2023

The following events and activities  have already happened now and are listed in calendar order from 26 – 27  August 2023.

National Arboretum Canberra

‘Wattle Corner’ up at the Village Centre

Sat. 26 and Sun. 27 August 2023
Visit ‘Wattle Corner’ at the Village Centre at the National Arboretum Canberra (9 am – 3 pm)

Check out the Wattle Day badges and ‘retro’ wattle coat hangers perfect for your best clothes

Find out about the benefits of planting pioneer wattles

National Wattle Day badges
will be available Wattle Corner

 

Wattle Walks at Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP)

11.00 am Sat. 26 &  Sun 27. August and Friday 1 September

Book here

Golden Wattle talk – 1.00 pm Sat. 26 &  Sun 27. August

Book here

Dr Suzette Searle (President of The Wattle Day Association) will talk  about Australia’s Golden Wattle – the national floral emblem at the Golden Wattle Garden (Cork Oak Road)at the National Arboretum Canberra.

Bring your own chairs or blanket and settle in amongst the scent and sight of 100 flowering Golden Wattles.

The Curatoreum

Village Centre, National Arboretum Canberra

Grow your own nation floral emblem – the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha)

Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle)  seed is available for sale now at the Curatoreum in the Village Centre

Ginger Catering Cafe

Try their wattle-inspired and tasting delights

 

The Monaro Folk Society

Bush Dance ‘Welcoming the Wattle’

Sunday, 27 August 2023, 2.00pm –  5.00pm

Folkdance Hall, 114 Maitland St, Hackett

Contact Antonella – ph 0413 295 004 or asalpietro@hotmail.com

More info about bush dancing: Bush Dance – Monaro Folk Society

Call it a dance, ball, frolic, caper, or fling, Welcoming the Wattle will wave winter goodbye in
great style and make people kick up their heels at the lively music played by
Paverty, Canberra’s premier bush band.

Bob Buckley will teach and call the dances so no previous dance experience is needed.
Come and enjoy a lively afternoon of fun and varied dances celebrating the imminent arrival of Spring with old and new friends.
Please bring a plate of refreshments to share.
In line with the theme of the event, we will serve non-alcoholic yellow drinks,
but also tea and coffee.

Cost: General admission $25, Concessions $23,
MFS, interstate dancers, Wattle Day Association and Dance Delights $20,
Students $10, free for under 18s (Tickets only at the door, cash only)