How Did Australia Became a Nation?

By indiad

  • The Premiers.

    The Premier of New South Wales, Henry Parkes, convinced the other premiers to discuss federation and in 1890 the Australasian Federation Convention , including representatives from New Zealand, was held in Melbourne. Next, the National Australasian Convention was held in Sydney in 1891. Each colony sent seven representatives. Work began on an Australian constitution. A draft was drawn up by a committee: Edmund Barton (New South Wales), Andrew Inglis Clark (Tasmania), Samuel Griffith (Queensland)

  • Six British Colonies !

    Before 1901,Australia was NOTa Nation.At that time ,the continent consisted of Six British Colonies which were partly self gorerning,but subject to the law -making power of the British Parliament. Each colonyhadits own goverment and laws,including its own railway system,postage stampsa andtaxes. This causeda lot of problems and people beganto think about the benefits of uniting as one nation,under a federal system of governance.

  • TheVote.

    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.