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Sir Henry Parkes urges the colonies to federate.
Sir Henry Parks makes his famous speech at Tenterfield urging the colonies to federate. Sir Henry Parks announced that the time was right for representatives from all the colonies to assemble (to revise) the constitution which would be necessary for bringing the federal government to exist, a federal government with a federal parliament for the conduct of national undertaking’. -
The Australasian Federation Conference recommened a convetion to map a draft of constition.
On the 6th of February 1890, representatives from the colonial parliaments and the New Zealand Parliament met at Australasian Federation Conference in Melbourne. The conference agreed 'the interest and prosperity of the Australian people (colonies) would be better served by an early union under the crown'. It called for a national function (formal meeting) to draft a constitution for the commonwealth. -
The Australasian Federation Conference was held.
The first National Australian Convention was held in Sydney in March and April 1891. It was attended by the delegates from each colony and the New Zealand Parliament. It was during the function that Edmund Barton who was to become the first Australian Priminster made his famous the catcher 'a nation for a continent and a continent for a nation'. -
Economic depression means the colonial parliaments lose interest in federation.
Economic depression had struck Australia meaning that the colonies were not interested in federating anymore as they had bigger issues to deal with. The larger States like New South Wales and Victoria were concerned that they would have to take on the fiscal responsibilities of the smaller States if they were to go into deficit. They didn't have either the time or money to commit to a federation. -
A people's conference in Corowa, New South Wales, urges the colonial parliaments to hold a new convention to decide on a draft constitution.
On the 1st of August 1893. Corowa held a Federation rally. Those among them were Dr Quick once a puddler in a Bendigo goldmine, and Robert Garran, a 26-year-old friend of the famous Edmund Barton, He was the leader of the Federalists in New Soth Wales. Sir Henry Parks could not attend due to bad health. -
A special premiers' conference agrees to hold a new federation convention.
Hobart in 1895 held a special premiers confrence. Most of the colonies agreed to the quick proprosal. Queensland feared that federaton might lose cheap pacific islander labour, they quickly decied not to take part. At this stage, New Zealand had already opted out of the idea of federation. -
The second National Australasian Convention.
The second convention, to develop and enact the federal constitution, it was convened in 1897. There were sessions held in Adelaide between March and May 1897, Sydney 2-24 September 1897 and Melbourne between January and March 1898. The conclusion of the second convention, each of the colonies had to pass a referendum for a federation to be realised. It proved a laborious process, with Western Australia being the last colony to accept the deal. -
A second people's conference in Bathurst, New South Wales, renews calls for another federation convention.
A second special premiers function was held in Bathurst Federation league, frustrated by the inaction of those in the colonial parliaments, the second function had over 150 delegates renewed calls for a new federation function. Then finally in March 1896 elections for a convention for delegates were held all over Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. -
The second National Australasian Convention meets in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, and agrees to the constitution.
The second National Australasian Function was held in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne met three times between the years of 1897 and 1898. It used the 1891 draft for the constitution as a starting point for deliberations. The function comprised elected and appointed the representatives from all the colonies except Queensland due to them not taking part. -
Referendums are held in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania to approve the constitution. It is endorsed by all but New South Wales.
In June 1898 referendums were held all over Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. Australia was one of the first nations to take a proposed constitution to the people for approval (Switerzland held a referendum to approve changes to its constitution in 1874) The enthusiastic campaigns were waged urging the people to vote either 'Yes' or 'No'. -
In January the premiers hold a secret meeting and agree to several changes to the constitution.
South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania held many referendums between the months of April and July. Which a high majority vote to the 'Yes' bill. In late September the Queensland voters declared the constitution. -
In March a delegation travels to London to present the constitution to the British Parliament.
On the 5th of July 1900, the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act was passed. It received full royal assent on the 9th of July. Western Australia still seized the opportunity to vote on a referendum on the constitution Bill before it passed leaving them out of the official constitution. They were later persuaded to join the Federation after the Federal government promised to construct the transcontinental railway track. -
On 1 January the Commonwealth of Australia is proclaimed in Centennial Park, Sydney.
The Commonwealth of Australia was once all separate colonies but on The 1st of January 1901, the became the States of the Commonwealth. The office of the Governor-General represented the reigning monarch of Britain as the head of the Commonwealth. Lord Hopetoun, proclaimed the Commonwealth of Australia at a special ceremony in Centennial Park, Sydney,
