Home Foundations Colour

Colour

Colour tokens are stored in brand presets and generated into CSS and JSON. Every palette is separated into primary colours and secondary colours. Use RGB and hex for screen work, CMYK for print work, and Pantone references for merchandise and other colour-critical reproduction.

Usage Guidance

Use colour as a hierarchy tool, not decoration. A strong Landcare layout should usually feel calm, clear, and recognisably branded before it feels colourful. Let typography, spacing, alignment, photography, and logo placement do most of the work; use colour to identify the brand, guide attention, and separate information.

Colour roleUseAvoid
Primary coloursUse for the strongest brand signals: logo-adjacent areas, major headings, calls to action, key rules, campaign anchors, signage identifiers, and the first-read colour in templates.Avoid using every primary colour at equal strength in one layout. This weakens hierarchy and can make the artefact feel noisy.
Secondary coloursUse to support the primary palette: section coding, diagrams, gentle backgrounds, emphasis areas, data highlights, and campaign variation inside the approved brand system.Avoid treating secondary colours as a replacement brand palette or using them as the dominant identity colour without a clear reason.
Light colours and greysUse for backgrounds, panels, dividers, table structure, quiet metadata, and areas where content needs room to breathe.Avoid low-contrast text on light tints, especially in digital interfaces, presentations, forms, and small print.
Dark coloursUse for text, strong contrast, footer bands, serious governance material, and high-legibility signage or print applications.Avoid large dark areas that overpower the logo, photography, or community content unless the format needs strong contrast.

Colour Swatches And Token Data

The following swatches show the approved primary and secondary colour tokens for each brand. Use the swatches for quick visual reference and the token tables for production values across web, print, merchandise, signage, and applications.

Landcare Australia

The Landcare Australia master palette uses four primary colours and four secondary colours. Use this palette as the corporate reference for national communications and upstream brand decisions.

Primary colours

4 tokens
Primary

Landcare Green

Hex
#82A523
RGB
130, 165, 35
CMYK
50, 3, 97, 19
Primary

Bright Green

Hex
#C3D217
RGB
195, 210, 23
CMYK
28, 0, 92, 0
Primary

Light Grey

Hex
#D8DAD9
RGB
216, 218, 217
CMYK
7, 3, 5, 8
Primary

Dark Grey

Hex
#444642
RGB
68, 70, 66
CMYK
50, 30, 40, 90

Secondary colours

4 tokens
Secondary

Forest

Hex
#325040
RGB
50, 80, 64
CMYK
82, 30, 65, 76
Secondary

Emerald

Hex
#005741
RGB
0, 87, 65
CMYK
84, 17, 68, 55
Secondary

Light Green

Hex
#EFF5DC
RGB
239, 245, 220
CMYK
6, 0, 16, 0
Secondary

Ocean

Hex
#25355A
RGB
37, 53, 90
CMYK
100, 79, 12, 59
RoleTokenHexRGBCMYKPantone
Primary Landcare Green #82A523 130, 165, 35 50, 3, 97, 19 370C / 370U
Primary Bright Green #C3D217 195, 210, 23 28, 0, 92, 0 382C / 382U
Primary Light Grey #D8DAD9 216, 218, 217 7, 3, 5, 8 427C / 427U
Primary Dark Grey #444642 68, 70, 66 50, 30, 40, 90 447C / 447U
Secondary Forest #325040 50, 80, 64 82, 30, 65, 76 553C / 553U
Secondary Emerald #005741 0, 87, 65 84, 17, 68, 55 7484C / 342U
Secondary Light Green #EFF5DC 239, 245, 220 6, 0, 16, 0 372C tint 40% / 372U tint 40%
Secondary Ocean #25355A 37, 53, 90 100, 79, 12, 59 655C / 655U

Landcare

The Landcare palette uses four primary colours and four secondary colours from the Landcare Australia colour guidance.

Primary colours

4 tokens
Primary

Landcare Green

Hex
#82A523
RGB
130, 165, 35
CMYK
50, 3, 97, 19
Primary

Bright Green

Hex
#C3D217
RGB
195, 210, 23
CMYK
28, 0, 92, 0
Primary

Light Grey

Hex
#D8DAD9
RGB
216, 218, 217
CMYK
7, 3, 5, 8
Primary

Dark Grey

Hex
#444642
RGB
68, 70, 66
CMYK
50, 30, 40, 90

Secondary colours

4 tokens
Secondary

Forest

Hex
#325040
RGB
50, 80, 64
CMYK
82, 30, 65, 76
Secondary

Emerald

Hex
#005741
RGB
0, 87, 65
CMYK
84, 17, 68, 55
Secondary

Light Green

Hex
#EFF5DC
RGB
239, 245, 220
CMYK
6, 0, 16, 0
Secondary

Ocean

Hex
#25355A
RGB
37, 53, 90
CMYK
100, 79, 12, 59
RoleTokenHexRGBCMYKPantone
Primary Landcare Green #82A523 130, 165, 35 50, 3, 97, 19 370C / 370U
Primary Bright Green #C3D217 195, 210, 23 28, 0, 92, 0 382C / 382U
Primary Light Grey #D8DAD9 216, 218, 217 7, 3, 5, 8 427C / 427U
Primary Dark Grey #444642 68, 70, 66 50, 30, 40, 90 447C / 447U
Secondary Forest #325040 50, 80, 64 82, 30, 65, 76 553C / 553U
Secondary Emerald #005741 0, 87, 65 84, 17, 68, 55 7484C / 342U
Secondary Light Green #EFF5DC 239, 245, 220 6, 0, 16, 0 372C tint 40% / 372U tint 40%
Secondary Ocean #25355A 37, 53, 90 100, 79, 12, 59 655C / 655U

Coastcare

The Coastcare palette uses two primary colours and six secondary colours. The blue-led primary palette distinguishes coastal and marine work while retaining shared Landcare system colours.

Primary colours

2 tokens
Primary

Coastcare Blue

Hex
#005A84
RGB
0, 90, 132
CMYK
99, 10, 14, 38
Primary

Bright Blue

Hex
#00AAD2
RGB
0, 170, 210
CMYK
74, 0, 14, 0

Secondary colours

6 tokens
Secondary

Emerald

Hex
#005741
RGB
0, 87, 65
CMYK
84, 17, 68, 55
Secondary

Light Blue

Hex
#B1D2E2
RGB
177, 210, 227
CMYK
35, 8, 9, 0
Secondary

Mid Blue

Hex
#00598F
RGB
0, 89, 143
CMYK
95, 62, 20, 5
Secondary

Ocean

Hex
#25355A
RGB
37, 53, 90
CMYK
100, 79, 12, 59
Secondary

Light Grey

Hex
#D8DAD9
RGB
216, 218, 217
CMYK
7, 3, 5, 8
Secondary

Dark Grey

Hex
#444642
RGB
68, 70, 66
CMYK
50, 30, 40, 90
RoleTokenHexRGBCMYKPantone
Primary Coastcare Blue #005A84 0, 90, 132 99, 10, 14, 38 308C / 308U
Primary Bright Blue #00AAD2 0, 170, 210 74, 0, 14, 0 312C / 312U
Secondary Emerald #005741 0, 87, 65 84, 17, 68, 55 7484C / 342U
Secondary Light Blue #B1D2E2 177, 210, 227 35, 8, 9, 0 552C / 552U
Secondary Mid Blue #00598F 0, 89, 143 95, 62, 20, 5 7462C / 7462U
Secondary Ocean #25355A 37, 53, 90 100, 79, 12, 59 655C / 655U
Secondary Light Grey #D8DAD9 216, 218, 217 7, 3, 5, 8 427C / 427U
Secondary Dark Grey #444642 68, 70, 66 50, 30, 40, 90 447C / 447U

Junior Landcare

The Junior Landcare palette uses two primary colours and six secondary colours. The warmer primary palette supports learning, youth, and education materials while remaining inside the approved brand system.

Primary colours

2 tokens
Primary

Junior Landcare Red

Hex
#E23B30
RGB
226, 59, 48
CMYK
1, 80, 87, 2
Primary

Bright Orange

Hex
#F8BB36
RGB
244, 170, 0
CMYK
0, 29, 84, 2

Secondary colours

6 tokens
Secondary

Forest

Hex
#325040
RGB
50, 80, 64
CMYK
82, 30, 65, 76
Secondary

Light Orange

Hex
#F8EEED
RGB
248, 238, 237
CMYK
2, 6, 3, 0
Secondary

Light Yellow

Hex
#FFF7EB
RGB
255, 244, 224
CMYK
0, 5, 15, 0
Secondary

Bright Green

Hex
#C3D217
RGB
195, 210, 23
CMYK
28, 0, 92, 0
Secondary

Light Grey

Hex
#D8DAD9
RGB
216, 218, 217
CMYK
7, 3, 5, 8
Secondary

Dark Grey

Hex
#444642
RGB
68, 70, 66
CMYK
50, 30, 40, 90
RoleTokenHexRGBCMYKPantone
Primary Junior Landcare Red #E23B30 226, 59, 48 1, 80, 87, 2 179C / 179U
Primary Bright Orange #F8BB36 244, 170, 0 0, 29, 84, 2 130C / 130U
Secondary Forest #325040 50, 80, 64 82, 30, 65, 76 553C / 553U
Secondary Light Orange #F8EEED 248, 238, 237 2, 6, 3, 0 176C tint 15% / 176C tint 15%
Secondary Light Yellow #FFF7EB 255, 244, 224 0, 5, 15, 0 127C tint 15% / 127U tint 15%
Secondary Bright Green #C3D217 195, 210, 23 28, 0, 92, 0 382C / 382U
Secondary Light Grey #D8DAD9 216, 218, 217 7, 3, 5, 8 427C / 427U
Secondary Dark Grey #444642 68, 70, 66 50, 30, 40, 90 447C / 447U

Colour Grouping

Grouping rule

Small group first

Build each artefact from a small colour group rather than the full palette. Start with one dominant brand colour, one supporting colour, and one neutral or light field. Add another colour only when it has a clear job.

Landcare

Brand recognition

  • DominantLandcare Green
  • SupportForest
  • Quiet fieldLight Green
Landcare should normally lead with Landcare Green or Bright Green. Use this group for local group notices, field guides, and natural-resource content.

Landcare

High contrast

  • DominantBright Green
  • SupportDark Grey
  • Quiet fieldLight Grey
Use when a layout needs a stronger first read, such as signage, calls to action, report covers, and event material.

Coastcare

Coastal information

  • DominantCoastcare Blue
  • Quiet fieldLight Blue
  • SupportOcean
Coastcare should normally lead with Coastcare Blue or Bright Blue. Use this group for coastal projects, water-quality explainers, and marine education.

Coastcare

Land and water bridge

  • DominantBright Blue
  • SupportEmerald
  • Quiet fieldLight Grey
Use where coastal work needs to connect with broader Landcare, habitat restoration, or catchment themes.

Junior Landcare

Learning activity

  • DominantJunior Landcare Red
  • Quiet fieldLight Yellow
  • SupportForest
Junior Landcare should normally lead with red or orange. Use this group for worksheets, classroom activities, and learning modules.

Junior Landcare

Warm action

  • DominantBright Orange
  • SupportDark Grey
  • Quiet fieldLight Orange
Use for calls to action, activity labels, posters, and event materials for younger audiences.

Landcare Australia

National master

  • DominantLandcare Green
  • SupportOcean
  • Quiet fieldLight Grey
Landcare Australia can use the full master palette, but national communications should still choose a controlled group for each artefact.

Pairing And Triads

Think about colour in pairs and three-colour groups. A pair controls contrast and emphasis, such as Landcare Green on Dark Grey. A triad controls overall colour balance: one background or field colour, one dominant brand colour, and one accent or support colour.

The examples below show approximate colour percentage only. They are not composition templates. Use the ratios to judge visual weight across a page, poster, slide, interface, or print item; place content, photography, logo, and whitespace according to the artefact's communication need.

Three-colour ratios

Colour percentage example

Dominant + neutral

Use for the clearest brand expression: signage, page headers, covers, and high-recognition moments.
  • 25%Bright Green
  • 60%Dark Grey
  • 15%Light Grey

Colour percentage example

Dark + light tint

Use for readable panels, tables, educational content, and long-form layouts.
  • 20%Forest
  • 70%Light Green
  • 10%Dark Grey

Colour percentage example

Primary + secondary + quiet field

Use for flexible campaign layouts with variation but controlled visual weight.
  • 20%Landcare Green
  • 15%Forest
  • 65%Light Green

Colour percentage example

Accent over dark

Use for buttons, large headings, rules, poster strips, and other short emphasis moments.
  • 15%Landcare Green
  • 75%Dark Grey
  • 10%Light Grey

Two colours plus white space

Colour percentage example

Brand colour + white space

Use for clean documents, webpages, and templates where the content should feel open and easy to read.
  • 15%Landcare Green
  • 75%White space
  • 10%Dark Grey

Colour percentage example

Dark anchor + white space

Use for serious governance, reports, and information-heavy layouts that need strong structure without colour overload.
  • 15%Dark Grey
  • 75%White space
  • 10%Landcare Green

Colour percentage example

Coastcare blue + white space

Use for Coastcare pages and explainers where the blue brand signal should be present but the page needs breathing room.
  • 15%Coastcare Blue
  • 75%White space
  • 10%Bright Blue

Colour percentage example

Junior action + white space

Use for learning sheets and activity prompts where the warm action colour needs to support, not crowd, the content.
  • 15%Bright Orange
  • 75%White space
  • 10%Junior Landcare Red

Landcare Pairings

Bright Green on Dark Grey

high-contrast primary signal

Use for confident calls to action, poster bands, buttons, or large display type.

Contrast: 5.70:1, suitable for body text where size and medium allow

Landcare Green on Dark Grey

large-scale brand accent

Use for large headings, rules, signage panels, or graphic blocks. Avoid small body text on this pair.

Contrast: 3.34:1, use for large text or graphic emphasis only

Forest on Light Green

quiet natural panel

Use for background panels, educational callouts, diagrams, and longer reading areas.

Contrast: 7.96:1, suitable for body text where size and medium allow

Dark Grey on Light Grey

neutral information layer

Use for tables, governance notes, captions, and dense documentation.

Contrast: 6.79:1, suitable for body text where size and medium allow

Coastcare Pairings

Light Blue on Coastcare Blue

coastal information panel

Use for section panels, educational explainers, coastal project cards, and signage blocks.

Contrast: 4.72:1, suitable for body text where size and medium allow

Bright Blue on Ocean

active marine accent

Use for large headings, action areas, icons, and feature bands. Check small text contrast carefully.

Contrast: 4.43:1, use for large text or graphic emphasis only

Light Grey on Mid Blue

structured document layer

Use for tables, report modules, and navigation states.

Contrast: 5.29:1, suitable for body text where size and medium allow

Emerald on Light Blue

land-and-water bridge

Use when a Coastcare artefact needs to connect coastal work with broader Landcare themes.

Contrast: 5.41:1, suitable for body text where size and medium allow

Junior Landcare Pairings

Bright Orange on Dark Grey

warm high-contrast signal

Use for calls to action, learning prompts, poster bands, and activity labels.

Contrast: 5.52:1, suitable for body text where size and medium allow

Junior Landcare Red on Light Yellow

warm primary emphasis

Use for large headings, covers, activity modules, or campaign accents. Avoid small red text on pale fields unless tested.

Contrast: 4.03:1, use for large text or graphic emphasis only

Forest on Light Orange

grounded learning panel

Use for educational notes, worksheets, field activities, and reflective content.

Contrast: 7.82:1, suitable for body text where size and medium allow

Dark Grey on Light Orange

readable support layer

Use for body-heavy learning materials, forms, captions, and instructions.

Contrast: 8.38:1, suitable for body text where size and medium allow

Use colour with purpose

Use primary colours for brand recognition, secondary colours for supporting hierarchy, and light or neutral fields for reading space. Keep repeated artefacts consistent so a suite of web pages, social tiles, slides, signs, and print templates feels like one system.

Avoid colour overload

Avoid using many saturated colours together, mixing multiple brand families as equal accents, placing coloured text on low-contrast tints, or changing colour meaning from one artefact to the next. Colour should make the message easier to scan, not harder to understand.

Accessibility And Contrast

Colour must never be the only way information is communicated. Pair colour with text labels, icons, patterns, position, or headings where meaning matters. Test foreground and background combinations in the actual medium: a colour pair that works on a large poster may fail in a small mobile interface or a projected presentation.

Use approved brand colours, but prioritise legibility and inclusion. For detailed contrast guidance, see Accessibility.

Data Visualisation Colour

Use colour in charts to help people understand the data, not to decorate the chart. A simplified Landcare approach is adapted from Atlassian’s data visualisation colour guidance: start with one brand colour, add categorical colours only when the categories need to be separated, and never rely on colour alone. See Atlassian Design: Data Visualization Color.

Chart needUseAvoid
One data seriesUse a single primary brand colour. For Landcare this is usually Landcare Green or Bright Green; for Coastcare use a blue; for Junior Landcare use red or orange.Do not add multiple colours when one colour tells the story clearly.
Highlight one valueUse the brand colour for the important value and neutral grey for the rest.Do not make every bar, line, or segment compete for attention.
Multiple categoriesUse a controlled categorical sequence and limit visible colours to five or six. Group small categories as Other.Avoid rainbow charts, especially where colours are not directly labelled.
Status or severityUse status colours only when the meaning is explicit: complete, in progress, monitor, critical. Add labels or icons.Do not rely on red, orange, green, or blue alone to communicate meaning.
Chart interfaceUse dark grey for titles and labels, light grey for gridlines, and neutral colours for reference lines.Do not use strong brand colours for axes, gridlines, and decoration.

Single-Colour Chart

Use one brand colour when the chart has one main story. Add colour only when it helps comparison.

Categorical Chart

Use a controlled sequence for unrelated categories. Stop at five or six colours, then group small categories as other.

  1. 1Landcare Green
  2. 2Ocean
  3. 3Emerald
  4. 4Bright Green
  5. 5Dark Grey
  6. 6Forest

Status And Severity

Use status colours only when the meaning is explicit, labelled, and repeated consistently.

StatusColourUse
Positive / complete#82A523Use for complete, improving, or on-track states.
Information / in progress#005A84Use for neutral progress, information, or pending review.
Attention / monitor#F8BB36Use for caution, watch, or needs-review states.
Critical / off track#E23B30Use for high-risk, overdue, or urgent states.
Use accessible chart cues

Use direct labels, legends, patterns, line styles, spacing, or borders to separate data. Place text beside chart marks where possible rather than on top of saturated colour.

Avoid chart colour overload

Avoid using the full brand palette in one chart, placing text over chart colours, or putting saturated chart colours directly against each other without spacing or a separator.

Source: Colours, pages 1