What’s in a Name? The Changing Definition of Weeds in Australia

Changes in cultural values since 1788 have influenced our perceptions of, and approaches to, foreign plant species and the way in which we have defined what is a “weed”. This article is an historical overview of the concept of “weeds” in Australia from 1788 to the present. This article follows changes in the definition and concludes with an analysis of the way in which elements of historical definitions can be seen in today’s legislative and policy regimes.