Australian Bicentenary was officially declared to be the Golden Wattle "Acacia pycnantha". The Gazettal was signed by the Governor General, Sir Ninian Stephen, on 19 August 1988. A ceremony was held on 1 September 1988 at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. The Minister for Home Affairs, Robert Ray, made the formal announcement and the Prime Minister's wife, Mrs Hazel Hawke, planted a Golden Wattle 1988 was also marked by the completion of many unique development projects such as the Bicentennial National Trail and on 9 May of that year, Queen Elizabeth II opened the New Parliament House in Canberra. As well as
Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute science laboratories. The original wing was destroyed by fire and has since been replaced. The school celebrated its bicentenary in 1992 and is now 225 years old. The school is commonly recognized as the oldest public high school in Ontario and the second oldest in the country. The team colours are blue and white. The team name for all sports is "Blues" and the mascot is a blue bear. The school competes in various sports including, but not limited to: rowing, cross-country, track and field, football, rugby, hockey, basketball, volleyball, soccer, mountain biking, curling, tennis, badminton, baseball, golf, swimming, and