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The Idea of Federation
The concept of federation was brought up by Sir Henry Parkes for the very first time at an intercolonial Conference held in Melbourne, when he said, "I think the time has arrived when these colonies should be united by some federal bond of connection." A bill to establish the proposed federal council was passed through both of the houses. The Secretary of State for the colonies did not proceed with this and the matter was left alone. -
Intercolonial Conference
An Intercolonial conference was held in Sydney, in 1883 through November and December All the six colonies met with New Zealand and Fiji. They discussed uniting with the neighbouring islands. Samuel Griffiths, who was the premier of Queensland, drafted a bill to constitute the Federal Council of Australia. Samuel Griffiths had always supported Federation and was the main author of the Constitution of Australia, although a few people believed he had just re-written what had already been done. -
Free Trade
Sir George Reid established the Free Trade and Liberal Association. He strongly objected to Parkes recommendation of federation because he believed that New South Wales free trade would be in danger. George Reid became the Premier of New South Wales in 1891. He was known as 'Yes/No Reid' because he was constantly changing his mind about federation. Reid was appointed Australia’s first High Commissioner to London in 1909. -
The Tenterfield Oration
Sir Henry Parkes gave a speech at the Tenterfield School of Arts in New South Wales, asking for the Federation of all the Australian colonies, which were self governed at the time but under the central authority of the British. The main reasons that he gave was for the continent of Australia to be united in defence and removal of tariffs. Tenterfield was chosen because it was on the border of New South Wales and Queensland and people had to pay border importation tariffs and wanted free trade. -
The Federal Convention
A Federal Convention was held in Sydney in March, 1891, to consider a draft Constitution for the federation of the British colonies in Australia and New Zealand. Forty six delegates went to the Convention. They were chosen by the seven colonial parliaments. One of the delegates was Sir Henry Parkes, who in that year was appointed president. Sir Edmund Barton also attended the Federal Convention and helped write the draft of the Consitution in 1891. Samuel Griffiths also attended. -
The Corowa Conference
The Corowa Conference was held at the Corowa Court house in the New South Wales border town on Monday the 31st of July and Tuesday the 1st of August. At the conference, Sir John Quick proposed that a formal national convention should be established and each of the six Australian colonies should be represented by ten elected delegates. He later presented a pamphlet called 'A Digest of Federal Constitutions'. 74 delegates from federation leagues of both sides of the border attended. -
Bathurst Convention
Delegates from all the colonies of Australia, came together in the Convention Hall in Bathurst to discuss the matter of federation. They mainly discussed the Commonwealth Bill. Important topics discussed were financial problems of federation and whether railways should be controlled by the federal government. John Quick was an important delegate at this Convention. -
The First Referendum
The people of all Australian colonies had to agree to the new Constitution before their colony could become part of Australia. So referendums were held, the first one in 1898. Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania voted 'Yes', New South Wales voted 'No. Queensland and Western Australia did not hold a referendum and therefore did not vote. -
Premiers Conference
The Premiers Conference was held in Melbourne from January the 29th to February the 2nd. Six premiers attended the conference to discuss the alterations to the Commonwealth Bill, suggested by the New South Wales Premier SIr George Reid. -
The Second Referendum
After the changes were made to the draft Constitution at the Premier's Conference, New South Wales and Queensland voted 'Yes' at the next referendum. Western Australia still did not participate. -
The Deciding Referendum
Western Australia finally voted 'Yes' to Federation, after Australian delegates travelled to London and got consent of the British Parliament for the new Constitution. The Constitution act was signed by Queen Victoria in September. -
The Nation of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed on the 1 January 1901. Sir Edmund Barton was appointed as the first Prime Minister of Australia by the first Governor General Lord Hopetoun. Sir John Quick was knighted on that day.The first Federal election was held on the 29th of March. The first Commonwealth Parliament was declared open on the 9th of May, by the Duke of York who later became King George V. Australia's flag was officially approved on the 3rd of September 1901.
