AUSTRALIA. — Wattle trees are of the genus Acacia, in the Mimosa family, and common throughout Australia, where there are over 600 different species. Varying in size, they may grow as low shrubs or tall trees.
Remarkably adaptable, they grow from rainforest areas to coastal heaths and remote, parched desert country. Wattle seeds grow in pods which need heat to release them and to stimulate germination. The shape of the pods varies from coiled to looped and twisted. The seeds have a very hard outer covering.
The golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha) was officially gazetted as Australia’s national floral emblem in 1988. Found only in the southern states, this species also features on the Australian coat of arms.
Wattle Day is a relatively new and, in many areas, unknown celebration. Although first proposed by ornithologist Archibald Campbell in 1908, the concept was not taken up until after Australia’s bicentenary.
In 1992, September 1 every year was declared ‘National Wattle Day’ throughout Australia. The purpose of National Wattle Day is to essentially promote all things Australian.
There remains some controversy over whether Wattle Day should be on September 1 or earlier, on August 1.
In 1916, New South Wales changed its day of celebration to August 1 as the popular Cootamundra wattle flowered earlier, and the Red Cross wished to use it to aid their fundraising for the World War I effort.
Since then, some Australians have suggested the earlier date would be preferable, as more popular wattle varieties flower in July-August.
As it stands, however, National Wattle Day remains gazetted for today, September 1.
