Wattle Day – Sep. 1, 2026

Expected Wattle Day Deals

As a day focused on national pride and environmental awareness, Wattle Day typically sees less commercial activity and more emphasis on community engagement and fundraising. Organizations like the Wattle Day Association and Greening Australia often run awareness campaigns and seek donations to support native plant conservation and habitat restoration. Local nurseries may offer specials on native Australian plants, encouraging home gardeners to incorporate wattle into their landscapes. Schools and community groups host educational events and planting drives. We will update this page with confirmed live events and donation opportunities as September 1 approaches.

History of Wattle Day

The origins of Wattle Day can be traced back to Tasmania when the first Hobart Town Anniversary Regatta was held in the 1800s. The island was celebrating the anniversary of its discovery by the Dutch, and they initiated a procession under an arch decorated with wattle blossoms. They even suggested the audience wear a sprig of silver wattle blossom in future regattas. This was switched out with the black wattle — more commonly grown during the month of the celebration — and this custom continued till at least 1883.

Even literature and poetry honored the wattle from the 1860s to the early 1900s, and people participated in wattle waltzes and drank wattle beer. There was a push for Australia to recognize the wattle as the national flower during this period, which was further compounded by the establishment of the ‘Wattle Club’ in Victoria. Founded by Archibald James Campbell, an ornithologist, and field naturalist who was passionate about Australian wattles, this club organized special outings especially during September for wattle appreciation. He was also one of the first people to mention the creation of a special day to celebrate Australia’s most famous flower. This interest only increased in the years following this war, and continued till the 1930s, after which disinterest set in.

About 50 years later, green and gold were declared Australia’s national colors, and the interest in wattles grew again. Soon, the push for creating a special day to celebrate the wattle grew again, and a Wattle Day League was formed in 1910. Headed by Sydney Botanic Gardens director, J. H. Maiden, this league was headquartered in Sydney and aimed to present a unified proposal to various state governments for the creation of a Wattle Day. The league settled on September 1 as Wattle Day — as it is the beginning of the spring season in Australia — and they founded multiple branches across the country. Since that year, celebrations have been held each year in major Australian cities. The dates of this celebration were different — cities chose dates between July and September. The celebration kept growing, however.

Support for Wattle Day continued even during the First World War when wattle sprigs were sold to raise money for organizations like the Red Cross. As a tradition, pressed wattles were sent in letters to wounded soldiers. In 1982, environmentalist Maria Hitchcock — famously known as ‘The Wattle Lady’ — started a campaign to revive Wattle Day and have it gazetted. She also planned to formally get recognition of the Acacia pycnantha as Australia’s National Floral Emblem. She took the help of ABC’s Ian McNamara to solicit letters of support from hundreds of Australians. After the official ceremony to gazette the Floral Emblem, Ms. Hitchcock was told she would have to personally get letters of approval from all the Premiers and Chief Ministers in Australia. Soliciting Ian McNamara’s help again, she received approval letters within three years for the gazettal of Wattle Day.

From 1992, September 1 has been declared as National Wattle Day for Australia and the external Territories of Australia.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Wattle Day