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conference in sydney
In January 1881, an inter-colonial conference was held in Sydney to discuss the particular issue of customs duties. Colonies such as New South Wales believed in free trade, whereas Victoria supported a 'protectionism policy' in which government taxes were imposed on goods imported from other colonies to encourage people to support local industry. Despite the conference being called to address this contentious issue, it went down in history as the first time the idea of a federal council was put -
federation councel
The British Parliament passed the Federal Council of Australasia Act 1885 (UK) on 14 August and after the colonies passed adopting acts, the Federal Council was formed. New South Wales, New Zealand and South Australia (except for 1888-1890), however, all refrained from joining the Council. It was said that the absence of New South Wales, that was the most powerful colony at the time, had a severe and fatal impact on the Council which later disintegrated in 1889. Despite also being flawed by havi -
referenda
As the ANA had proposed in Corowa, the people of the colonies then had to vote in a referendum on the Constitution. The 1898 referendum was held in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. The result was a majority in all four colonies. The New South Wales parliament, however, had previously stipulated that it would not accept a majority in its colony unless there were in excess of 80 000 votes in favour of Federation. Despite an overwhelming majority in every other colony, New S -
referenda
As the ANA had proposed in Corowa, the people of the colonies then had to vote in a referendum on the Constitution. The 1898 referendum was held in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. The result was a majority in all four colonies. The New South Wales parliament, however, had previously stipulated that it would not accept a majority in its colony unless there were in excess of 80 000 votes in favour of Federation. Despite an overwhelming majority in every other colony, New S -
Parkes and his 'Tenterfield Address
Realising the inadequacies of the Federal Council, Sir Henry Parkes made a second attempt at Federation. At the Tenterfield School of Arts on 24 October 1889, he gave a famous speech which called for the need of a national government. In his speech, Parkes highlighted the recent report by Major-General Sir J. Bevan Edwards which defined the need for the colonial forces to unite as one for the sake of the country's defence. Parkes also called for a Parl -
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Constitutional Conventions
With Parkes as its president, the National Australian Convention was convened at Parliament House in Sydney between March and April 1891. Delegates from each colony, and also from New Zealand, decided on the name the Commonwealth of Australia. The same man who drafted the Federal Council Bill, Samuel Griffiths, is also credited with writing the draft constitution. This claim, however, has been disputed throughout history. A number of people believe that he simply re-wrote what Tasmanian politici -
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referenda
As the ANA had proposed in Corowa, the people of the colonies then had to vote in a referendum on the Constitution. The 1898 referendum was held in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. The result was a majority in all four colonies. The New South Wales parliament, however, had previously stipulated that it would not accept a majority in its colony unless there were in excess of 80 000 votes in favour of Federation. Despite an overwhelming majority in e -
british aproval
As the colonies were still being ruled by Britain, for Federation to be established, legislation needed to be passed by the British Parliament. Sir Edmund Barton, Alfred Deakin (Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly) and Charles Cameron Kingston (Premier of South Australia) were just a few of the important delegates who travelled to London to ensure that the British Parliament passed the Constitution Bill. The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK) w -
The Commonwealth of Australia
On 1 January 1901, what had been legally disparate colonies the previous day were now States of Australia. Celebrations were to be found all across the new nation. This was especially the case in Sydney's Centennial Park where the Commonwealth of Australia was inaugurated by the Governor-General before the Barton Commonwealth Cabinet. See image 3 The first Federal election was held on 9 March, with Barton remaining as Prime Minister. On 13 May 1901, the Aust
