The Armadale Environmental Centre – the home of the Armadale Branch of the Wildflower Society and other Environmental Groups in Armadale was destroyed by fire this morning – Sunday 19th October.
The fire was reported about 6am in the morning, by the time the fire brigade arrived it was well alight.
The main building and the storeroom were destroyed and the toilets severely damaged.

All assets were lost – including our extensive library, photographs and pictures, gazebos, banners, display panels and much more.

The cause of the fire is unknown and is still under investigation.

The Future

The November 13th  meeting ,Jolanda Keeble: ‘Field Guide for Wongan Hills’, venue has been relocated to the Kim Fletcher Gallery (Next to the Armadale District Hall)

Kim Fletcher Gallery

A meeting location for 2026 is yet to be found, please monitor this webpage for updates.

Thank you

From the Armadale Branch Committee and members, I would like to extend many thanks for the messages of support from the community and the City of Armadale.

We appreciate all the offers of donation of books to rebuild our library. As we have nowhere to store items, we are unable to accept any books now – but please contact us. Details of what books we lost can be found here

John Davey Library (post-fire)

Updates

I will update this post as news comes to hand or you can register to receive our newsletter.

Armadale Branch News Letter

Like the West Australian Bush, from the ashes we will rise again – bigger and better.

Roger Harington

WSWA – Armadale Branch President

WSWA President

Exciting Developments for the York Branch

The York Branch of Wildflower Society of WA is thrilled to announce we have been successful in obtaining a Lotterywest grant of $41,000 to complete upgrades to both our York Seed Orchard and York Bushland Garden. In addition to this grant $20,000 has been contributed by the Mary Bremner Bequest Grant Program and a community grant from the Shire of York. These grants will fund the extension of nursery, a shed at the seed orchard, purchase of a small tractor and water tanks.

We hope that WA wildflower society members will attend the ANPSA Biennial Conference to be held in Melbourne, Victoria from 30th September to 4th October 2024. Titled “Gardens for Life”, the conference will feature such topics as gardening for wildlife, cultivation to save rare and threatened flora and gardening for well-being. We will be visiting a superb new Australian Botanic Garden in the Dandenong ranges and looking behind the scenes at the Melbourne and Cranbourne botanic gardens program “Raising Rarity” among many other topics. There will be 5- night pre and post conference tours offering an opportunity to see some of Victoria’s best native gardens and some hottest wildflower areas. If you register here now obligation free you will receive the newsletters, the latest of which is here.

Details of the conference can be found here. By registering you will receive newsletters, updates and first advice of the opening of tour preferences, early bird bookings and excursion choices.

The Spring edition of Australian Plants is dedicated to the pre- and post-conference tour destinations. The Autumn edition will cover presenters, topics and day excursions.

The early bird price has been set at $585 for the five days including lunches and morning teas. The conference will comprise three days of presentations and two days of excursions.

Please consider participation in this conference which addresses a number of current topical subjects including urban rewilding, wetlands restoration and revegetation, verge and grassland restoration, and care of rare plants.

The Society’s “parent” group, ANPSA, holds biennial national conferences and the next will be held in Kiama, New South Wales from Saturday 10  to Friday 16 September 2022, with the theme ‘Australian Flora – Past Present Future’. The Conference will be hosted by members of the Australian Plants Society (NSW) with registrations now open (as per the attached).

Winners are Grinners!

Armadale Branch representatives – Roger Harington, Sue Radford, Debbie Walker and Kim Fletcher (Photo: Kim Sarti)

At a ceremony hosted by the City of Armadale on Australia Day 2022, the Armadale Branch was amongst the finalists (and Winners) for the Active Citizenship (Group or Event) Award of the Year for 2021.

The branch’s active citizenship involvement and outstanding contribution to community was recognised through it being awarded the Active Citizenship (Group or Event) Award for the Year. Branch president, Roger Harington, accepted the award on behalf of the branch, which was presented by the Armadale Mayor, Cr Ruth Butterfield.

Formed some 60 years ago, the Armadale Branch operates under the Wildflower Society of WA’s four ideals of Knowing, Growing, Conserving and Enjoying our Western Australian flora.

Armadale Branch is well known for promoting the value of our natural bushland and associated conservation issues, and for conducting events that are well organised. Community engagement in displays at shopping centres, local community markets, exhibitions and local schools enable branch members to share their knowledge and passion for WA’s wildflowers and raise environmental awareness.

Branch members have demonstrated active citizenship through their participation with like-minded community groups in the revegetation and protection of the natural environment within Armadale city. Many members serve on these community-based environmental groups or are Reserve Custodians of a small neighbourhood bush reserve to assist the City of Armadale’s bush crew.

On 28th March 2021, 60 years to the day of the branch’s formation, a celebratory tree planting took place at the Armadale Environmental Centre. Six trees of local species were planted, one for each decade. Armadale Mayor Cr Butterfield, planted the first tree. The second tree was jointly planted by family members of inaugural president Rev. Ewan Watts. The third tree was planted by inaugural members Irene and Michael Morcombe and the fourth tree was planted by Roger Harington, current branch president. The fifth and sixth trees were planted by student representatives from Armadale Primary School and Pioneer Village Primary School.  In September the 60th Anniversary exhibition of wildflower art, photography and other artworks was held in the Armadale District Hall. To complete the experience for those attending, other events and activities such as bushwalks, talks and entertainment were included over the weekend.

The effects of exposure to nature are well documented – from increasing happiness and physical health to lowering stress. The public bushwalks conducted by the branch provide participants with opportunities to get out and enjoy the wonderful beauty of Western Australia’s unique wildflowers. These outdoor activities benefit a range of areas affecting public health and social wellbeing and by making people feel better emotionally, it enhances the community life of Armadale.

Branch activities and events continue to raise the awareness of the importance of the conservation and good management of our remaining unique bushland heritage.