Canberra’s Sunday best, the Old Bus Depot Markets,  will welcome in the first day of spring with a celebration of National Wattle Day. Joined by the ACT

Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, the celebrations will take place at Market this Sunday 1 September 2024.

“We wanted to do something different this year to mark the change of season, and we thought what better way than to share the celebrations of National Wattle Day,” said Old Bus Depot Markets’ Manager, Richard Vagi.

“National Wattle Day is the chance to honour our national floral emblem, (Acacia pycnantha – Golden Wattle). It is a symbol that comes directly from the land, and with its diversity and resilience reminds us of what it takes to survive and thrive here.

“On National Wattle Day we’ll adorn the Market halls with green and gold, we’ll have stallholders featuring wattle and wattle seed food and sweet treats including wattle  seed chocolate, and there will be wattle-themed homewares and unique arts and crafts,” Richard continued.

The Markets will be joined by ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, and the National Wattle Day Association in celebration of Australia and its people on this unifying national day.

“I encourage Canberrans to visit the Old Bus Deport Markets on National Wattle Day. I am looking forward to being a part of these celebrations on Sunday. Wattle is a unifying symbol of Australia, it is already blooming in streets all over Canberra – a great reminder to us all that spring is here,” said Chief Minister, Andrew Barr.

President of the Wattle Day Association Inc, Dr Suzette Searle, is looking forward to heading to Market for the celebrations on the first day or spring, and reminds us all to mark 1 September on our calendars as National Wattle Day. Officially proclaimed by the Governor-General of Australia in 1992, 1 September was first celebrated in 1910 as a day to celebrate Australian identity. Today it remains a unifying day as we all share the wattle wherever we live in Australia or wherever we may have been born.

“This is a day to celebrate the good fortune we all share living in this remarkable land of the Wattle.

“We are thrilled to be showcasing this happy day and what it means with Canberrans at the Old Bus Depot Markets.”

National Wattle Day will be celebrated at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston, Canberra, on Sunday 1 September 2024 from 9.30am – 2.30pm. For more information on the Markets, visit www.obdm.com.au For more information on National Wattle Day, visit www.wattleday.asn.au