A golden gift to mark the National Botanic Gardens' anniversary

Australian National Botanic Gardens horticulturists Janine Baines and Peter Feilen with Wattle Day Association treasurer Judy Tunningley. Picture: Megan Doherty

The Wattle Day Association has made an appropriate gift to the Australian National Botanic Gardens to mark the gardens' golden anniversary.

Members of the association presented the first of 50 golden wattle trees to the gardens in Canberra on Wednesday, "the last hurrah" of its 50^th birthday. The Australian National Botanic Gardens were opened in October, 1970 by Prime Minister John Gorton.

Wattle Day Association president Dr Suzette Searle said it couldn't let the year pass without helping to celebrate the gardens' golden anniversary.

Golden Wattle is the national floral emblem of Australia.

Three golden wattle were planted near the entry to the visitors centre on Wednesday, with the help of horticulturists Janine Baines and Peter Feilen; others will follow.

Dr Searle said while golden wattle (acacia pycnantha) was native to Canberra, those gifted to the gardens were of "particular botanical and historical significance".

Wattle Day Association members at the gardens on Wesnesday (front from left) Teah Searle, Warwick Wright, Pat Wright, Dr Suzette Searle (president), Stephanie Panter, Rod Panter and Dawn Searle with (behind) horticulturists Janine Baines and Peter Feilen. Picture: Megan Doherty

The association had collected seed from Mount Jerrabomberra and raised the seedlings. Noted Canberra horticulturist Charles Weston had collected botanical specimens from the same site in 1917.

"The golden wattle donated today was raised by us and we also collected the seed," she said. "The seeds were collected form a very special place, which is why we've been allowed to donate these to the gardens. It was collected from a place Charles Weston went to in 1917 and only half an hour away, as far as the cockatoo flies."

It was also in 1988 at the Australian National Botanic Gardens that a golden wattle was planted by Hazel Hawke, wife of then-prime minister Bob Hawke, to celebrate the wattle's official proclamation as Australia's floral emblem.

"That was, of course, 32 years ago and as they only live for 10 to 15 years, that original tree has been replaced," Dr Searle said.

Horticulturists Janine Baines and Peter Feilen helped to plant the first three of the golden wattle seedlings close to the entry to the visitors centre. The association plans to donate more.

Mr Feilen thanked the association for the "golden gift in our golden year".

"The first 50 will be planted as individual focal points in the gardens, creating lovely photo opportunities for our visitors," he said.

"There will also be small plantings but we also plan to do a large group in our acacia section."