News article updated on 24 June 2024
National Wattle Day is celebrated on 1 September, the first day of spring in Australia.
This annual celebration commemorates the seasonal change by recognising our national floral emblem and all that it represents for the Australian people.
When in bloom, the Acacia pycnantha (golden wattle), displays Australia's national colours of green and gold and is a potent symbol of unity and resilience in the face of harsh climate conditions such as droughts, winds and bushfires.
National Wattle Day was proclaimed as a national day by the Governor-General of Australia in 1992, following strong advocacy by school teacher Maria Hitchcock and ABC radio broadcaster, Ian McNamara.
It is a day for unifying celebration of everything that we love and value about Australia and Australians as symbolised by the beauty, diversity and resilience of the wattle.
The first Wattle Day was organised on 1 September 1910 by the Wattle Day League, in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and it is growing into a nation-wide celebration for communities big and small.
The golden wattle was proposed as an Australian floral emblem in 1891. In 1912 the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Andrew Fisher MP, suggested that the wattle be included as a decoration surrounding the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.
The national floral emblem (Acacia pycnantha) displays Australia's national colours of green and gold (proclaimed in 1984). It is a potent symbol of resilience in the face of a harsh climate, droughts and bushfires.
Since its official proclamation, National Wattle Day is growing into a nation-wide celebration for communities big and small.
There are many ways to celebrate National Wattle Day. From illuminating iconic buildings and landmarks in green and gold, to planting wattles, learning about indigenous use of wattles, wattle walks, stalls and festivals and to the wearing of a wattle sprig or badge.
Visit the Wattle Day Association to access National Wattle Day materials
Or visit our national symbols resource centre to download a Golden Wattle poster.