federation By jbrennan8 Jan 1, 1889 Sir Henry Parkes, premier of New South Wales, urges the colonies to federate ppppppppppppppp Period: Jan 1, 1891 to Jan 1, 1894 Economic depression means the colonial parliments lose interest in federation. Jan 1, 1895 A special Premier's conference agrees to hold a new federation convention. Jan 1, 1896 a second peoples conference in bathurst, New South Wales renews calls for another federation convension.