National Wattle Day (Tuesday 1 September) aims to beat the pandemic blues this year as Canberra is lighting up with nature and numerous public buildings to be a blaze of yellow and gold, day and night.
According to the Wattle Day Association, Golden Wattle – the national floral emblem – is nature’s high vis. It lights up our landscape each year to welcome the spring, and this year the yellow and gold will also be on display at night. From Telstra Tower to the Carillon, Kings Avenue Bridge, Questacon, the Royal Australian Mint in Deakin and the Shine Dome in Acton, it will be gold, gold, gold!
The Wattle Day Association says National Wattle Day is a special day to celebrate Australia and its people. The power of wattle as a national symbol is that it comes from the land itself, where it has been for more than 30 million years, teaching us the importance of resilience.
Wattle Day this year is both a welcome distraction to lift our spirits, welcome the spring and warmer weather and remind us that, despite the need to socially isolate, we all share something very special in being Australian citizens.
The Wattle Day Association has this year made special efforts to enlist the support of national organisations and prominent landmarks to bring a special sense of celebration and unity to Australian communities. As in Canberra, many towns and cities across the country are lighting up for Wattle Day.
NATIONAL WATTLE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN CANBERRA
You can celebrate National Wattle Day anywhere and in any way you like. Get together with family and friends, take a walk in the bush – just reflect and celebrate life in Australia.
You can also check out the following:
CANBERRA LIGHTS UP
On the nights of 31 August and 1 September, eight national landmarks are collaborating to create a golden glow in the night sky: Kings Avenue Bridge, Bowen Place and the National Carillon (courtesy of National Capital Authority); Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre, and The Ian Potter Foundation Technology Learning Centre, Deakin (courtesy of Questacon); Telstra Tower (courtesy of Telstra); The Shine Dome (courtesy of the Australian Academy of Science); The Royal Australian Mint, Deakin.
What to do:
- Enjoy the Golden Walk between the National Carillon and Bowen Place, across Kings Avenue Bridge, as these landmarks light up in yellow.
- Take and share photographs of Canberra landmarks as they light up in yellow for Wattle Day. Use the hashtags: #wattleday #nationalwattleday #wattledayassociation
WATTLE WALKS
Australian National Botanic Gardens: Daily walks to see wattles from around Australia, 29 August–6 September 11am; meet at the clock near the bridge.
National Arboretum Canberra: Wattle walks on Saturday 29 August and Tuesday 1 September 11am and 2pm at Southern Tablelands Eco-systems Park (STEP); Golden Wattle propagation workshop Sunday 30 August 10.30am; Wattle corner in the Village Centre, 29-30 August 9am-4pm.
Mt Taylor Wattle Walk: Sunday 30 August 2pm; RSVP to Mt Taylor Parkcare by email [email protected] to book your spot. Numbers limited.
CEREMONIES
Government House Canberra: Ceremonial planting of a Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) and presentation by schoolchildren from Turner Primary of a basket of wattle to Their Excellencies (by invitation only), Monday 31 August.
ACT Citizenship Ceremonies with a Wattle Welcome to Australia’s new citizens: Tuesday 1 September (by invitation only, Covid-19 restrictions apply) at Albert Hall.
OTHER NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
National Museum of Australia will feature on-site displays and promotion across digital media.
National Portrait Gallery will feature Australian ceramicist, Thanacoupie, whose totem name means ‘wattle flower’ on the gallery’s social media.
MoAD at Old Parliament House: Great for the kids! Celebrate National Wattle Day on the On Air PlayUp episode on Tuesday 1 September.
The Australian War Memorial will be posting a wattle-related item from its national collection on its Facebook page for National Wattle Day.
The National Gallery of Australia will be sharing wattle-themed paintings and prints from the national collection via social media (Facebook and Instagram).
WINDOW DISPLAYS
Check out the wattle window displays at the Parliament House Gift Shop (Parliament House), the Botanical Bookshop (Australian National Botanic Gardens) and Manuka Woolshed (Manuka shops).
BUY YOUR OWN GOLDEN WATTLE
GreenGold Nursery at Federation Square, Nicholls is one of the few nurseries in Canberra that carries Australia’s national floral emblem, Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha). Available while stocks last.
For more information about National Wattle Day, visit www.wattleday.asn.au or follow Wattle Day on Facebook or Wattle Day Association on Instagram.
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