About National Eucalypt Day

Celebrated annually on March 23rd, National Eucalypt Day features the Eucalypt of the Year poll entering its 8th year in 2025, events around the country, and the awarding of the prestigious Bjarne K Dahl medal.

2014

National Eucalypt Day Launched

National Eucalypt Day is launched with the opening of the Bjarne K Dahl Boardwalk at Lake Mountain Alpine Resort. Prof Pauline Ladiges spoke to the uniqueness of eucalypts, and Sue Perry spoke to the impacts of the 2009 bushfires and subsequent regeneration around Lake Mountain.

    2015

    Inaugural Bjarne K Dahl Medal

    Cranbourne Botanic Gardens hosts the second National Eucalypt Day with presentations by Prof David Cantrill (Chief Botanist for Victoria) and Dr. Dean Nicolle of the Currency Creek Arboretum.

    Dr. Dean Nicolle is presented with the inaugural Bjarne K Dahl Medal to publicly recognise and reward those who have made a significant and sustained contribution to eucalypts.

      2016

      Conserving Eucalypts Symposium

      The third National Eucalypt Day is celebrated across a number of events and includes multiple celebrations of the efforts and projects of past grantees.

      The Conserving Eucalypts Symposium is held in partnership with the Royal Society of Victoria and includes nine eucalypt experts speaking to the state of eucalypts in a changing environment.  Speakers include Prof. David Lindenmayer, Dr. Suzanne Prober and Dr. Brad Potts.

      Healesville Sanctuary and Catholic Education Melbourne host approx. 120 students learning about the importance of eucalypts as habitat.

      Leon Costermans was the recipient of the second Bjarne K Dahl medal.

       Photo of Leon Costermans in Langwarrin by Catherine Cavallo

      2017

      National Eucalypt Day Expands

      The fourth National Eucalypt Day event included a dramatic increase in the extent of participating groups, States and public reached.

      Events ranged from walk and talks at Botanic gardens, a eucalypt identification bus tour, Currency Creek Arboretum open days, Botanic Garden open days, art exhibitions, poetry readings, and indigenous cultural practices – traditional Koorong making. In total there were 26 events in 6 States. More than 2500 people physically attended an event and more than 1.4 million people were reached on social media with the day trending at 21st on Twitter in Australia on the 23 March 2017.

      Dr. Suzanne Prober was the recipient of the third Dahl Medal.

      Photo of Dean Nicolle at Currency Creek Arboretum explaining damage to his Pink Gum, Eucalyptus fasciculosa, caused by cockies to prevent goannas reaching the birds’ nests.  Taken by Linda Baird 2022

      2018

      River Red Gum wins the first Eucalypt of the Year

      The fifth National Eucalypt Day built on the variety of events across the country that was experienced in 2017 with an emphasis placed on engaging with the community through social media and short videos released through TERN, CSIRO and the Australian Academy of Science.

      The inaugural Eucalypt of the Year was launched with the Eucalyptus camaldulensis, the fabulous River Red Gum taking the crown.

      Ian Roberts OAM was awarded the Bjarne K Dahl Medal.

        2019

        Research Conference at UTas

        The sixth National Eucalypt Day saw events continuing to grow across the country with Botanic Gardens, conservation groups and native nurseries participating.

        Particular highlights included the research conference: “Eucalypt genetics: fundamental and applied research in a post-genome era” held at the University of Tasmania in February and the commissioning of the “Eucalypt Sculpture Commission” by Kylie Stillman in conjunction with the Castlemaine State Festival.

        The eucalyptus pauciflora, the tenacious Snow Gum is crowned the second Eucalypt of the Year.

        There was no medal awarded in 2019.

          2020

          MUMA runs tree story exhibition

          A brief respite from Covid-19 lockdowns saw events run again for the eighth Eucalypt of the Year in 2021, with the crowning event leveraging the magnificent Tree Story Exhibition at Monash’s Museum of Modern Art (MUMA).  Dr Brian Martin spoke to the cultural connections of the eucalypts and Dr Dorothy Steane was awarded the 2021 Bjarne K Dahl Medal.

          Several micro-grants are awarded to help some grassroots events run.  These included botanical dying and art workshops.

          Radio coverage spiked significantly in 2021 with the support of the ABC across the country, and social media engagement continued to blossom, especially across Twitter and Instagram.

          The Sexy Gum, the Gimlet or Eucalyptus salubris took out the fourth Eucalypt of the Year.

            2021

            MUMA runs tree story exhibition

            A brief respite from Covid-19 lockdowns saw events run again for the eighth Eucalypt of the Year in 2021, with the crowning event leveraging the magnificent Tree Story Exhibition at Monash’s Museum of Modern Art (MUMA).  Dr Brian Martin spoke to the cultural connections of the eucalypts and Dr Dorothy Steane was awarded the 2021 Bjarne K Dahl Medal.

            Several micro-grants are awarded to help some grassroots events run.  These included botanical dying and art workshops.

            Radio coverage spiked significantly in 2021 with the support of the ABC across the country, and social media engagement continued to blossom, especially across Twitter and Instagram.

            The Sexy Gum, the Gimlet or Eucalyptus salubris took out the fourth Eucalypt of the Year.

              2022

              Australian Government recognises National Eucalypt Day

              The ninth National Eucalypt Day was again celebrated across the country with a broad range of events despite the post-Covid hesitancy.

              The Open Days at the Currency Creek Arboretum run by Dean Nicolle in SA continue to grow in their popularity with hundreds of people participating in walks and talks over the weekend.  The main event was held interstate for the first time at the Kings Park Botanic Gardens, where Malcolm French AOM was awarded the 2022 Bjarne K Dahl medal by previous medallist Suzanne Prober.

              Eucalypt Australia was pleased to contribute to the Eucalypt tours run at the Cavendish Red Gum festival.

              The Guardian wrote a fabulous article highlighting National Eucalypt Day and the Eucalypt of the year and radio coverage grew to 20 interviews over the month.

              National Eucalypt Day appears on the Federal Government’s calendar of Key Environemental and Water Events:  https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/news/stay-informed/events

              The magnificent Eucalyptus regnans, the mighty mountain ash, took out the fifth Eucalypt of the Year.

                2023

                National Eucalypt Day turns 10!

                National Eucalypt Day was celebrated for the 10th year in 2023.

                The day was celebrated with Brian Martin opening his “Significance of Thulu” exhibition as a result of his 2021 Fellowship at William Mora Galleries in Richmond.

                Dr Donald Franklin was recognised for his contribution to eucalypts, receiving the 2023 Dahl Medal.

                Events were once again in full swing at botanic gardens, arboretums, nurseries, in forests and in workshops across the country.

                The fabulous Angophora costata, the Sydney Red Gum, took out the sixth Eucalypt of the Year.

                  2024

                  Celebrating our Urban champions in 2024

                  National Eucalypt Day highlighted our urban champions is 2024 for their cooling effect and their contribution to biodiversity.  Radio and media across the country was abuzz with the benefits of planting both eucalypts and natives in our gardens, nature strips and parklands.

                  The incredible Corymbia ficifolia, the Red-Flowering Gum , took out the seventh Eucalypt of the Year and was the first time a Corymbia took out the prize.

                  Prof. Brad Potts was recognised for his extensive career work in eucalypt genetics, receiving the 2024 Dahl Medal.

                  Events were once again in full swing at botanic gardens, arboretums, nurseries, in forests and in workshops across the country.  Increasingly we can see evidence that National Eucalypt Day is taking on a life of its own as evidenced by media and events taking place that Eucalypt Australia has not directly organised.

                  Photo of Red Flowering Gum, Corymbia ficifolia in Ocean Grove, Vic Jan 2024 taken by Linda Baird