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.
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:
Don’t forget to ‘Wattle up’ with flowers in your hair
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| Planting wattles at the Yarralumla Dog Park for Wattle Day in 2022 |
Erin Nugent (Yarralumla Nursery) wearing wattle in her hair |
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 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
11.00 am–12.00 pm
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.
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| 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 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞
𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬Past 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
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National Wattle Day badges |
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Wattle Walks at Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP)
11.00 am Sat. 26 & Sun 27. August and Friday 1 September
Golden Wattle talk – 1.00 pm Sat. 26 & Sun 27. August
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)
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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)
