About Wattle Day
Why do we celebrate National Wattle Day?
We celebrate National Wattle Day to celebrate Australia and being Australian.
We celebrate National Wattle Day because:
- Wattle is our national floral emblem. It is a symbol that comes directly from our land.;
- Wattle is Australian and represents us all. Unlike other national symbols, wattle excludes no one. Like our people, wattle has great diversity and resilience;
- Wattle welcomes the spring, reminds us of the importance of renewal and paints our national colours across our landscapes; and
- Wattle is a unifying symbol of Australia and Australians. There is no other symbol that says so much about us and our land, Australia.
So join the celebration of National Wattle Day – 1 September
1 September has officially been National Wattle Day since 1992
Since 1992 National Wattle Day has been 1 September in all of Australia's States and Territories.
Before then, Australians in different States have celebrated wattle day on different days between July and September.
Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) - Australia's national floral emblem
- Golden wattle, South Australia
Wattles have long had special meanings for Australians and in 1988 the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) was officially gazetted as Australia's national floral emblem.
In 1992, the first day of September each year was officially declared 'National Wattle Day' throughout Australia by the Commonwealth of Australia.
2010 was the centenary of the celebration of wattle day on 1 September 1910 in NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
For more history of this uniquely Australian day click here