Federation of Australia

By dmaguirecarey

  • Sir Patrick Fitzroy

    Sir Patrick Fitzroy who was the governor of New South Wales at the time suggested to think about whether Australia should become a federation

  • 1854- John West argues for Federation

    1854- John West argues for Federation after the Eureka Gold Rush after the issues that Australia had with the gold rush. He wanted the colonies to become a federation. Because they had the right to vote they thought that federation should be addressed

  • Sir Henry Parkes

    24th of October 1889- Sir Henry Parkes, the Premier of New South Wales encourages all the colonies to become 1 as the federation of Australia at a speech at Tenerfield .

  • 1890- The first Australian Federation Conference

    6-14th of February 1890- The first Australian Federation Conference is held to consider the colonies becoming a Federation because of Australia's wealth, population, governing and Australia's capacity. The colonies decided at that conference that the may consider becoming a federation.

  • March to April 1891 - The second contusion convention

    March to April 1891 - The second contusion convention is held in Sydney for Australasian (Australia, New Zealand and some parts of Asia) decision to make a draft for the contusion of the Commonwealth of Australia

  • Economic Depression

    In 1892 there was a lot of economic depression within the states of Australia. This meant that people were losing jobs and money especially

  • 20th January - 17th March 1898- The third and last convention

    20th January - 17th March 1898- The third and last convention is held for federation which is the time which they then decide to hold a referendum vote. Each colony is asked to approve the contusion so far.

  • 3rd June 1898- The votes in Victoria and Tasmania

    3rd June 1898- The votes in Victoria and Tasmania are counted and it is yes in those colonies. This means that federation is wanted in these 2 colonies so far

  • 4th of June 1898- More voting

    4th of June 1898- The votes and also counted in South Australia and that colony has also a majority vote of Yes.

  • 1899- There is a second round of voting for the federation.

    This is second and final vote to decide whether the people of the six colonies really want federation to happen. If the colonies voted no then it would've not gone ahead. If they had voted yes then they would go and decide if it would pass the British Parliament.

  • 24th- 27th January 1899- The final session of the Federal Council

    24th- 27th January 1899- The final session of the Federal Council ended. This was the final talk before the referendum and the second round of voting for the six colonies.

  • 29th of March 1899- South Australian referendum won

    29th of March 1899- South Australian referendum won. They wanted federation is South Australia

  • 27th of July 1899- The Victoria and Tasmania referendum won

    27th of July 1899- The Victoria and Tasmania referendum won the yes vote.

  • 2nd of September 1899 - The Queensland referendum

    2nd of September 1899 - The Queensland referendum won the yes vote

  • The Western Australian referendum

    The Western Australian referendum did not win the yes vote
    unknown date

  • 15th of December 1899- A meeting was held

    15th of December 1899- A meeting was held to consider to withdraw Western Australian from the federation. In the end they decided not to though.

  • 15th of March 1900 - The first meeting is held in London.

    15th of March 1900 - The first meeting is held in London. The representatives from each colony is sent to London to defend the British from changing the decision.

  • 5th July 1900- The Commonwealth of Australia Contusion Act

    5th July 1900- The Commonwealth of Australia Contusion Act passed the British Parliament. This then meant that the British approved of it.

  • 9th July 1900- Queen Victoria decided

    9th July 1900- Queen Victoria decided that she would give approval to the federation to become a reality of the 1st of January 1901. This would then be the date when the six colonies would become 1 federation.

  • 1st of January 1901- The official initiation

    1st of January 1901- The official initiation of the Australian Commonwealth is held in Sydney, Centennial Park. The 9 first members of the Australian federation in parliament. Edmond Barton was chosen to be the first Prime Minister of Australia

  • 9th May 1901- The Duke of York

    9th May 1901- The Duke of York opened the first federal parliament in Melbourne. The meetings were held here until 1927. Most of the other federal headquarters were in Melbourne too.

  • 3rd September 1901- The flag

    3rd September 1901- The flag was first flown on Parliament house. This was a sign of National Pride after the start of Federation