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Period: to
Making Of Federation
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1883
premiers from the six Australian coloneys and New Zealand meet in sydney. They are afraid that the French, Germans or Japanese may invade Australia or New zeland. They discuss ways to build a stronger defence force. Federation is put forward as a solution. Melbourne and Sydney -
1887
Melbourne and Adelaide are linked by a train service. -
1888
Sydney and Brisbane are linked by a train service. -
1889
Sir Henry Parkes, premier of New South Wales, suggests drawing up a constitution for a federal parliament. -
1891
Delegates from the six Australian colonies and New Zealand hold a federal conference. Sir Henry Parkes, the leader of the conference, makes a speech calling for ‘ One People, one destiny ’. These become the catch cry for Federation. Delegates draw up a draft Constitution for Federation and take it back to their colonies to show their governments. The New South Wales government does not like the Constitution. The project was shelved. -
1893
The people living in the colonies begin to demand Federation. They formed groups called Federation Leagues. -
1894
South Australia becomes one of the first places in the world to allow women to vote. -
1897
Several conventions are held to rewrite the Constitution. Referendums are held in NSW , Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia to decide about the constitution. The “yes” vote wins. However, the NSW government says that not enough people have voted yes. -
1899
The Constitution is changed again and new referendums are held. This time, all the Australian colonies, except western Australia, takes part and the yes vote is overwhelming. -
1900
Australian delegates travel to Brisbane to ask for permission to form the Commonwealth of Australia. At the last moment, while the delegates are still in Britain western Australia votes to join the Commonwealth. -
1901
The new Commonwealth of Australia is born on 1 January. The Colonies of Victoria, NSW, Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland join together in Federation. The 1901 Constitution states that ‘Aboriginal Natives’ are not to be counted as Australian Citizens. The numerous colonial army units combine to form the Australian Army. The immigration Restriction Act, nicknamed the White Australia Policy is passed. -
1901
Edmund Barton becoes Australias first prime minister -
1902
The Commonwealth franchise act is passed, giving the vote to all British subjects over the age of 21 who have lived in Australia for at least 6 months. This right to vote includes women but not indigenous Australians. -
1903
The high court of Australia is opened. -
1903
Alfred Deakin becomes Australias first prime minister. -
1904
The federal Government sets up court to listen to arguments between workers and employers. It is called the conciliation and Arbitration Commission. -
1907
Melbourne and Sydney are the first capital cities to be linked by telephone. The Conciliation and Arbitration Commission makes a historic ruling that workers in a particular factory must be paid a fair wage, and decides what this wage should be. -
1908
A site is chosen for the national capital. -
1909
The federal government introduces old-age pensions.
