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Establishment of the Dawn Club
In 1888 Louisa Lawson, who had previously edited the Republican with son Henry, launched The Dawn; a journal for women. The publication’s purpose was to be a “phonograph to wind out audibly the whispers, pleadings and demands of the sisterhood”. It advised on women's issues, including divorce, the age of consent, and women's right to vote. As well as operating as an important vehicle for the communication of feminist politics the paper also contained short stories, fashion notes, sewing patterns -
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Federation Timeline
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The Tenterfield Oration by Sir Henry Parkes
For some time in the late 19th Century politicians were talking about the need for a national form of governance in Australia - a public speech by the premier of New South Wales at the time, Henry Parkes, finally brought the debate to the Australian public. -
Referendum to Agree to Federation
The amended 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. -
Queen Victoria signed Commonwealth of Australia Constituation Act
The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 became law on 9 July 1900, and entered into force on 1 January 1901. Even though the Constitution was originally given legal force by an Act of the United Kingdom parliament, the Australia Act 1986 removed the power of the United Kingdom parliament to change the Constitution as in force in Australia, and the Constitution can now only be changed in accordance with the prescribed referendum procedures. -
1st Prime Minister Initiated
Sir Edmund Barton, GCMG, KC (18 January 1849 – 7 January 1920), Australian politician and judge, served as the first Prime Minister of Australia and became a founding justice of the High Court of Australia. -
Imigration Restriction Act passed
The Immigration Restriction Act 1901 was an Act of the Parliament of Australia which limited immigration to Australia and formed the basis of the White Australia policy. It also provided for illegal immigrants to be deported. It granted immigration officers a wide degree of discretion to prevent individuals from entering Australia. The Act prohibited various classes of people from immigrating, but most importantly it introduced the dictation test, which required a person seeking entry to Austral -
Women could vote in Federal Elections
The Commonwealth Franchise Act passed, enabling all women (with the exception of Aboriginal women in some States) to vote for the Federal Parliament. From this time, women were also able to sit in Parliament.
