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Edmund Barton is appointed as the first prime minister of Australia, as head of the caretaker government of the new federation.
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75 people were voted into the house of representatives, and 36 elected to the Senate, and Barton held on to power.
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Parliament was opened in Melbourne's Exhibition Building for a day and was followed by the first sitting of parliament.
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After a public competition, Ivor William Evans's design for a flag was chosen and was unfurled across the Exhibition Building.
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The Boer War which commenced in 1899 ends following the death of around 600 Australians.
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The Commonwealth Franchise act of 1902 was passed.
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The Empire submarine telegraph cable from Canada to Queensland was opened.
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Lord Tennyson, a former South Australian Governor, was chosen to replace the old Governor-general, Lord Hopetoun.
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Edmund Barton resigned to become a judge of the High Court and was replaced by Alfred Deakin.