National Floral Emblem
Golden wattle
Photo: Royal Botanic Gardens, NSW.
Australia’s national Floral emblem is the golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha Benth.). It has been used in the design of Australian stamps and many awards in our honours system. A single wattle flower is the emblem of the Order of Australia.
About the Floral Emblem
The golden wattle is an evergreen, spreading shrub or small tree. It grows in the under storey of open forest, woodland and in open scrub in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
When in flower, the golden wattle displays the national colours, green and gold.
As one species of a large genus of flora growing
across Australia, the golden wattle is a symbol of unity.
Wattle is ideally suited to withstand our country’s droughts, winds and bushfires. The resilience of wattle represents the spirit of the Australian people.
In recent times, the golden wattle has been used as a symbol of remembrance and reflection. On national days of mourning, for example, Australians are invited to wear a sprig of wattle.
National Wattle Day
The first day of September is National Wattle Day. It builds on a long unofficial tradition of wearing the wattle blossom on 1 September.
The day was introduced in 1913 by an association called the Wattle Day League and formally recognised on 23 June 1992. Australians can celebrate their Floral heritage by planting wattles.
History
The golden wattle was unofficially accepted as the national Floral emblem to mark Federation in 1901.
In 1912 the Prime Minister, the Hon. Andrew Fisher, suggested that the wattle be included as a decoration surrounding the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.
Proclamation
The then Governor-General, Sir Ninian M Stephen AK GCMG GCVO KBE, proclaimed the golden wattle the national Floral emblem on 19 August 1988.
The proclamation is published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S259.
Use of the national Floral Emblem
Permission is not required to reproduce the national Floral Emblem.
Print fact sheet
The information on this page is available as a printable fact sheet.
This factsheet is tailored to suit education resources for teachers/students. Please view the Symbols section for further information.
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