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29 September Governor FitzRoy of New South Wales in a despatch suggested the need for a 'central intercolonial authority'
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Select Committees in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia held to discuss the possibility of a federal union
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Henry Parkes proposed a Federal Council to consider matters of joint interest to the Australasian Colonies
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Premiers Conference in Hobart agreed to a second Constitutional Convention with elected delegates from each colony
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The first meeting of the Federal Council in Hobart. Representatives from Western Australia, Fiji, Queensland, Tasmania, and Victoria attended. New South Wales refused to join
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Major-General Sir J. Bevan Edwards reported on the defense of the Australian Colonies. 24 October Sir Henry Parkes made a speech at Tenterfield calling for a great national government for all of Australia'
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27 April Death of Sir Henry Parkes
November People's Federal Convention held in Bathurst -
20 January-17 March Third Session of The Second National Australasian Convention adopted a draft constitution.
3 June New South Wales referendum failed to reach the statutory minimum -
In March, Australian delegates went to London to negotiate the enactment of the Constitution.
June–July Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act is passed by British Parliament.
9 July Queen Victoria gave the Royal Assent to the aforementioned Act
31 July Western Australia joined the Federation after a Yes vote in the referendum.
On 21 September Lord Hopetoun was officially appointed as Governor-General of Australia. -
24-27 January Last meeting of the Federal Council of Australasia was held.
In 29 January-2 February 'Secret' Premiers meeting in Melbourne agreed to six amendments to the Constitution Bill including that the site of the Capital be in New South Wales, but not within 100 miles of Sydney.
April-September New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania & Queensland voted 'Yes' in referenda. Only Western Australia refrained. -
Australia was formed on 1 January 1901, when the British Parliament passed legislation enabling the six Australian colonies to govern in their own right as the Commonwealth of Australia.