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Eureka Stockade
A quick bloody battle, lasting only 15 minutes yet so many lives were lost. Yet, it marked a breaking point in the miner's frustration, that they wanted a say and were ready to risk their life for their rights. After the battle, the miner's right was introduced and this battle was the start of Australian Democracy that would later develop into a system used by the Government. -
Henry Parkes makes speech at Tenterfield
Henry Parkes: 5 times premier of NSW is one of many that urges Australia to federate. At the Tenterfield School of Arts he gives a speech that would later influence the decision for Australia to become a federation instead of six separate colonies. This speech holds great importance since though he wasn't the only one that wished for Asutralia to federate, he was the only one to make a direct speech to the public. A line from the speech: One people. One destiny. -
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People begin to loose interest in the constitution
With economy crashing and going badly, they didn't think that they had the expenses for this. Also it was thought that the new constitution wasn't well drafted enough and that it wasn't democratic enough. Quickly, the constitution was forgotten and scraped before it was ever launched and put into motion. This period in time is also known as the depression. -
A draft of the constitution is made
In 1891, the first National Australian Convention gathered together in Sydney and created the first national constitution for the country. New Zealand could've joined since it was British as well but refused and hence wasn't made part of the new country. -
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Alfred Deakin pushes for federation and joins conventions for it to happen
Alfred Deakin is one of the 'new generation', born and bread in Australia. He wants it to become a federation, just like Henry Parkes before him. The man is part of three conventions held in 1895, 1897 and 1898. In the end, majority of colonies agreed to the constitution and a referendum is held. -
A referendum is held throughout Australia to decide about the constitution
A referendum was held in 4 of the 6 colonies and people got to vote weather if they wanted the new constitution. Despite the many protests that the bill got against it, 3 of the 4 colonies included came out with a 'yes' votes. In NSW there was a slight technicality since they only received 7,200 votes whereas it had to be 8,000 or above to be counted as a yes vote which meant that bill was lost. -
The constitution was changed and approved
After making several changes to the constitution, another referendum was held and this time, a wider majority agreed. The constitution was then approved and passed, therefore the federation of Australia was agreed to. Later, Queensland and Western Australia joined the federation. Ironically in some way, the second and approved constitution was almost the same as the one made in 1891. -
Queen Victoria signs constitution
Queen Victoria read, passed and signed the Australian constitution in 1900. However, Australia wasn't made a country then since the queen made a proclamation that the constitution would only be effective from the 1st January 1901. It was also stated that WA(who wasn't keen on federation) could be part of the federation if the whole country agrees. -
Edmund Barton becomes Australia's 1st prime minister
After elections, Barton came out as the overall winner and the obvious best choice. At the ceremony in Centennial Park, he was announced as Australia's very first prime minister. -
Australia is officially declared a federation
On the 1st January, 1901, Australia gathered in Sydney, Centennial Park to celebrate the former 6 separate colonies becoming one united nation. Over 60,000 people attended and around the ceremonial pavilion 7,000 spots were for luminaries and 300 for members of the press. Queen Victoria’s official proclamation was read by Australia’s first Governor-General, Lord Hopetoun and the ceremony was followed by a week of special events in Sydney. The pavilion was then demolished in 1903. -
Camberra is founded and named
Camberra was named by the Governor-General’s wife, Lady Denman. It means 'Gathering Place' in the local indigenous tongue and named after that because it used to be a place where indigenous gathered. From to having just about more sheep than people, Australia's little capital has grown to about a population of 40,000. Camberra's design was by a man called Walter Burley Griffin, an architect. After construction was completed, a lake in the parliament triangle was named 'Lake Burley Griffin'
