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1st official suggestion of australian federation
first official suggestion of a federal project for the Australasian contries, (contries in the South Pacific Ocean) (assumed to have come from Legislative Councillor, Edward Deas Thomson) forwarded by Governor Fitzroy to the British Colonial office. -
dividing australia
The Australian Colonies Goverment Act, passed by the brittish parliament, seprates the Port Phillip District (Victoria) from New South Whales. It provides for Legislative Councils in Victoria, South Australia and Van Diemen's Land (Tazmania). -
the idea of being australian
At first the colonies had little to do with each other. But in 1872 telegraph linked the colonies, and the idea of being 'Australian' began to be celebrated in songs and poems, and by the 1890s the idea of federation was becoming popular. People began to realise that for matters like defence, controlling immigration and economy, a nation would be stronger than individual colonies. -
The path to federatoin 1
During the 1890s, each colony sent representatives to special meetings, called conventions, to try to agree about how to form a new federation. Eventually the delegates agreed on the rules for a federal system and a draft constitution. The people of the colonies voted in a series of referendums to accept this new Australian Constitution. -
The path to federation 2
It was then passed as a British Act of Parliament in 1900, called the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, which came into effect on 1 January 1901. The Constitution established a federal Parliament which could make laws for the new Australian nation -
7 years of delay
Hard times across Australia drew people's attention away from federation for several years but in 1893 there was a conference of pro-federation groups. They agreed that a national meeting would redraft the constitution and that all Australians should have a chance to agree with the constitution by vote. -
the refredum succeds
The modified constitution went to referendum once again in all colonies except Western Australia, and the Bill was passed. The Western Australians did not believe federation was the best thing for the colony. -
the first refredum
A special election called a referendum was held so that people in the colonies could vote on the constitution. Queensland and Western Australia did not take part, and in New South Wales it did not get approved. The premiers met in 1899 to find ways of meeting the concerns of those three colonies. -
The west joins in
About 1899 there was a gold rush in Western Australia. Many people went there to search for their fortune. This contact with people from the other colonies began to change ideas about federation in Western Australia. In August 1900 a referendum was held, and the people of Western Australia voted to join the Commonwealth. -
the creation of a new nation1
The major laws affecting Australia were still made by the British Parliament, which would have to make a new law to allow federation. In 1900 a delegation of flve, plus an observer from Western Australia, took the draft constitution to London. -
the creation of a new nation 2
In May, the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 was passed by the British Parliament, and was signed by Queen Victoria on 9th July 1900, and so became law. The Act declared that on 1st January 1901, the colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania would be united and known as the 'Commonwealth of Australia'. -
Australia becomes a nation
The first federal election was held on the 9th of march with Edmund Barton as the first prime minister. the colonies became states of the commonwealth of Australia. The people of Australia were beginning to think that not a single contry would be better. Food would be much cheaper and one defence force would mean they could defend the country better. -
The Commonwealth of Australia is a Reality
The colonies became States, and a Federal Parliament was formed according to the Constitution. On 1st January 1901 the Commonwealth of Australia was anounced in Centennial Park, Sydney by Lord Hopetoun, -
The idea for a capital terrirorie
Among the changes that were made was the decision that a new capital city be established between Sydney and Melbourne, both of which wanted to be the nation's capital. -
Two new territories
In 1901, the two territories did not exist. The Constitution provided for the establishment of a national capital, to be located in New South Wales but at least 100 miles from Sydney. In 1911, the Australian Government created the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) for this purpose. In the same year, the Northern Territory was also created. Until then, this area had been part of South Australia.
