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- Federation
In 1901, the colonies voted 'yes' to federate into Australia. Some of the upper classes saw Federation as a means of creating uniform immigration laws that could keep 'undesirable' people out of Australia. Most of the union movement saw Federation as a way to keep out the Chinese and Pacific Islanders that were being used to weaken unions. Although Federation is celebrated in Australia's political circles, most Australians approach the event with casual indifference. -
1911-14 - Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition
Douglas Mawson's 1911-14 expedition to Antarctica ranks as the greatest polar expedition story ever told. While it achieved its scientific goal with detailed observations in magnetism, geology, biology and meteorology, it was Mawson's individual story of survival that ensured its immortality throughout history. It was a story of one man refusing to give up when all hope seemed lost, and a support team leaving the door ajar when all chance seemed gone -
Australia's World War 1 Battle
Gallipoli was a World War I battle against Turkey that claimed the lives of 7,600 Australians before it was evacuated. It was also the first battle where the term 'Diggers' was used to identify Australian servicemen. (Diggers was a term that had applied to miners on the goldfields.) Gallipoli isn't remembered out of a desire to celebrate war. Instead, it is a commemoration of those who died serving Australia in battle, be it warranted or not. Curiously, whereas Gallipoli has been used to build -
Western Australia votes to secede
In April 1933, 68 per cent of West Australians voted in favour of seceding from the Commonwealth of Australia. Before they could officially become a new country; however, they needed permission from the British Parliament. Meanwhile, Australia's Federal Parliament was arguing that Britain should not interfere in Australian politics. The end result was that Britain never made a decision and Western Australian remained part of the Commonwealth. -
World War 2
lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million people serving in military units from over 30 different countries. In a state of "total war", the major participants placed their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities at the service of the war effort, erasing the distinc -
Republic Australia
In 1999, the approaching millennium and Sydney Olympics created a wave of popularity for Australia to become a republic. Polls showed that around 90 percent of Australians supported a republic and around 80 percent wanted the president to be popularly elected by the people. Although the majority of the people were in favour of a directly elected president, Australia's politicians were in favour of the president being appointed by two thirds majority of parliament and it was such a model that was