About the Djilba Wildflower Festival
History of the Festival
The Djilba Wilflower Festival Esperance, formally the Esperance Wildflower Festival, is a fascinating celebration of the region’s flora and cultural heritage.
This Festival, originally the Esperance Anglican Wildflower Festival, started in 1990, as a display of wildflowers in the Old Anglican Rectory, in conjunction with the annual Church Fete. Devonshire teas and craft sales helped raise money for building a new Parish Centre. This became an annual event in the Rectory, until the new Parish Centre opened in 1996. The Wildflower display was held in this large hall up until 2020, when the event expanded to incorporate the Esperance Civic Centre's reception room, foyer and grounds.
In the early years of the Festival, wildflowers were gathered from farms, by representatives of the parish out-centres. Indoor gardens and large arrangements were set up in the Parish Centre. The Wildflower Society identified species and placed them in labelled jars. Wildflower Festival Saturdays became family days with brass band music, street parades, decorated wheelbarrows of wildflowers, pantomime, fancy dress (as a flower) decorated bicycles and a poetry competition adding to the atmosphere. From 1998 a theme for the year was introduced and ideas evolved with the changing theme. The number of different species identified has also increased, to exceed 600 each year.
From 2007 the Festival became compliant with the Department of Environment & Conservation (now DBCA) and the Shire, allowing the collection of specimens to be extended to road reserves under license. This collection process is now managed by members of the Esperance Wildflower Society, who train volunteer collectors and ensure all permits are updated and reporting requirements are fulfilled.
Schools have always been encouraged to participate in a Festival art competition, with a different theme each year. Student entries are displayed in St Andrews Church and school groups visiting the Festival are often given activity sheets to help them focus on interesting items hidden in the display.
The event has also included Artists in Residence along with a range of arts, crafts and other items for sale from a Parish Stall and a mini-market outside the hall. Local music groups have also performed.
Light lunches and morning and afternoon teas have traditionally been provided by the Anglican Parish volunteers. Members of the Esperance Wildflower Society (EWS) and the Esperance Photographers Club (EPC) have prepared slide shows of wildflower and bird photos. EWS members have also been available to assist visitors with species identification.
Since 2019 Esperance Community Arts (ECA) has supported community engagement through arts-based projects whilst also providing overall coordination. Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (ETNTAC) has also participated since 2019, contributing Wudjari Nyungar perspectives on the cultural significance of local plants and landscapes.
In 2024 Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (ETNTAC) took over the coordination role for the Festival from Esperance Community Arts with the support of the other three event partners.
The official Festival title was changed to The Djilba Wildflower Festival Esperance in 2025.
Acknowledgement: This edited history of the Esperance Anglican Wildflower Festival was originally prepared by Jenny Scott in 2018 and was updated in 2025.
The Festival in 2025
The Esperance Wildflower Festival celebrates the diversity of native flora in our region. Variations over millennia, in climate, soil composition, and competition with other plants and animals have shaped the evolution of the species we see today.
The 2025 Festival is a celebration of Wetland Flora.
This year's Festival builds on the partnerships developed over the last 6 years. Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation stepped up to take on the role of overall program and event coordination and promotion in 2024, joining the organising committee of representatives from the Esperance Wildflower Society, the Anglican Parish and Esperacne Community Arts who share responsibility for planning and delivering the Festival. The Parish continues to provide catering services and two of the venues, the Wildflower Society manages the botanical aspects of the event including the collection, identification and display of plant specimens and Esperance Community Arts provides ongoing support for the art competitions and exhibitions.
We hope that you will find much to enjoy in the 2025 Esperance Wildflower Festival, and that you will share in our wonder and enthusiasm for the cultural richness and floral diversity that surrounds us.
Development of the Esperance Wildflower Festival Logo
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After much consideration, Lambertia inermis (Chittick) was selected to represent the 2019 Esperance Wildflower Festival.
It is a common shrub of the Esperance district, where it grows on a wide range of soil types. Its large, showy orange flowers are produced throughout the year, providing a source of nectar for many birds and insects, making it an important component of the local ecosystem.
The photo above was taken by Mary Hoggart.
Esperance-based botanical artist, Colette Annice was commissioned to paint an original image of the Chittick flower to be incorporated into the logo.Colette has been an artist-in-resident at the Esperance Wildflower Festival for a number of years and is well-known for her sensitive depictions of local flora.
The final logo was transformed into a digital design by Kim Maslin - Digital Technologies Educator
Djilba Wildflower Festival Logo & Emblems
The Festival logo was adjusted in 2025 to reflect the change of official title. Two Wudjari Festival emblems were also created.
These emblems, created by Wudjari artist Candice Smith, represent the six family groups of Traditional Custodians who have come together to form Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation. These six families of Native Title holders work together to care for Country in Kepa Kurl (Esperance) and across the surrounding region.
The V symbols represent males and the U symbols represent females sitting together around the fire, or meeting place, which is symbolised by the circles.
The colours chosen for these emblems symbolise the bright flowers that come out during the Djilba season (August & September) and throughout the year. Candice chose to use shades of blue in her design because this colour represents her country and the Nyungar Djilba season.
These emblems are also shaped like a flower to represent of the wildflowers of Kepa Kurl, Wudjari boodja.
