Henry Parkes Federation Timeline

By Tim765

  • Henry Parkes promotes Federation

  • Federation Australasian Council established.

  • Federal Council established.

    An attempt to join action on matters affecting all the colonies in common: New South Wales refuses to join.

  • NSW Premier Henry Parkes’ Tenterfield

    (NSW) speech - calls for federation

  • Australasia Federation Conference

    adopts a resolution in favour of the union of the colonies.

  • Draft Constitution Created

    • National Australasian Convention, Sydney - agrees to draft a constitution. Adopts name of Commonwealth Australia
    • Constitution drafted by Andrew Inglis Clark (Tasmania)
    • Draft Constitution amended aboard Queensland government boat Lucinda by Charles Cameron Kingston (SA), Samuel Griffith (Qld), Edmund Barton (NSW), Andrew Inglis Clark (Tas).

  • Edmund Barton

    tours the Riverina area, setting up Federation Leagues.

  • Formation

    of the Australasian Federation League in New South Wales.
    - “People’s Convention” in Corowa (NSW) - accepts the idea that people are to vote for delegates to the next convention to consider the Constitution.

  • Premiers meet in Hobart

    • agree to the Corowa Conference approach for achieving Federation.

  • Second “People’s Conference” in Bathurst

    • debated 1891 draft and suggested key changed to the Senate.

  • Second session

    ...of the National Australasian Convention
    - in Sydney
    - revises draft Constitution.

  • Referendum Vote

    • YES vote in Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria and NSW but not the required majority in NSW.

  • Secret Premiers’ Conference

    • to amend the Constitution to satisfy NSW and Queensland Referendum vote
    • all colonies except Western Australia vote for Federation.

  • Details of Federation 2

    • British Parliament passes Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act
    • Vote in Western Australia - 31 July - for Federation
    • Queen Victoria proclaims the date of inauguration of the Commonwealth - 1 January 1901

  • Proclamation of the Commonwealth of Australia

    • 1 January
    • First federal election
    • three main parties which ran candidates were Protectionists, Free traders and Labor
    • Opening of the first Parliament
    • at Melbourne’s Exhibition building.