G'day again Stu,

The early British settlers of Sydney - the first settlement, in 1788 - were quite concerned to find trees that could substitute for the willow. The quickest way of throwing up a minimal shelter - for the convicts and serving soldiers (the Officers and the Governor had canvas tents) was to construct "wattle & daub" huts. The tree they used, initially, with dark green springy branches and yellow globular flowers, was callicoma serratifolia and they called it "Black Wattle" for the dark branches and its use in wattle & daub.

When they found great numbers of acacias, with similar yellow globular flowers, they called all these "wattles" as well ... they weren't botanists - just settlers! Now most Australians think a "wattle" must be an acacia ... and forget that, by the priority rules of taxonomy, only the callicoma should be so called!

Anyway, to ponder the original question of this thread: I have always assumed that a "Sally Garden" (a 'willow garden') would be a pleasant green garden along a stream - lined with willows ... and a pretty place for dalliance. With that view, I have no problems with the location of the song's disappointed love theme.

Regards,

Bob