Where "Waratah" Comes From
Photo by CSIRO, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
"Waratah" comes from Dharug (warada), the language of the Sydney region. The plant was formally described by botanist James Edward Smith in 1793 from specimens sent from Sydney.
Tharawal people of the Cronulla area are recorded soaking the flowers in water to make a nectar drink taken as a tonic.
“The crimson waratahs were in full bloom along the bushwalking tracks in the Blue Mountains.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
The waratah (Telopea speciosissima) is officially the floral emblem of the state of New South Wales, widely celebrated for its dramatic dome of crimson petals.
It has given its name to numerous Australian institutions, most famously the New South Wales Waratahs Super Rugby team.
ð Sources & Further Reading
- Australian National Dictionary Centre, ANU
- List of English words of Australian Aboriginal origin — Wikipedia
- Telopea speciosissima - Wikipedia
- Waratah - Wikipedia
Part of our Aboriginal Loanwords collection →
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