Wattle Day

The golden wattle only became the official floral emblem of Australia in 1988, but Wattle Day has been observed since way back in 1899, before the nation was even federated. Wattle Day falls on September 1, the first day of spring, which reinforces the flower’s status as a symbol of new growth, renewal and fresh beginnings. It was initiated by Archibald James Campbell, a leading ornithologist and field naturalist with a particular passion for Australian wattles, of which there are more than 1,000 species.

Sprigs of wattle and colourful badges were sold on Wattle Day to raise money for the Red Cross. NSW changed the date to 1 August in 1916 because that allowed the Red Cross to use the earlier flowering and more familiar Cootamundra Wattle rather than Golden Wattle.