42a Evans Rd, DUNDAS VALLEY

Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees, with roughly 1300 species worldwide. Approximately 950 of these are native to Australia, where they are commonly referred to as Wattle. Wattles are the most widespread of all Australian plants, some inhabiting the most remote and inhospitable areas, growing in parched sand in the desert under the scorching sun, spiked, hard and leafless. In the rainforest gullies they have soft feathery foliage with pale golden heads. One species of wattle, Acacia pycnantha, is the floral emblem of Australia and is featured on the coat-of-arms.

The word 'Wattle' is of Anglo-Saxon origin and refers to flexible lengths of branches woven between stakes for the construction of fences or walls, 'wattle and daub' construction, with an additional layer of mud or clay to weatherproof the house walls. The huts of the early settlers were made using this 'wattle and daub' technique. Upon European settlement of Australia, the Acacia branches were found to be the most suitable trees for this purpose and soon came to be called Wattles. Sydney Golden Wattle (Acacia Longifolia), Parramatta Green Wattle (Acacia Parramattensis) and Downy Wattle (Acacia Pubescens) are species of Acacia commonly found in Parramatta. Acacia Park covers an area of 1.5 hectares and has the following facilities:

• Children’s playground
• Seating
• Picnic facilities
• Off street car park

UBD: Map 192 E9