-
-
Violence occurs towards Chinese on the Goldfields.
-
The Eureka Rebellion takes place.
-
Men in South Australia get the vote.
-
Men in Victoria get the vote
-
Men in New South Wales get the vote
-
There were 6 British colonies in Australia. They could decide some things themselves, but the laws were made in Britain.
-
Men in Queensland get the vote.
-
This decade is a boom time in Australia
-
Maritime Workers' strike occurs.
-
Each colony was now able to elect their own government, but still the big decisions were made in Britain. People in th colonies were starting to talk about joining together to be one nation instead of six little colonies. Joining together like this is called federation.
-
A National Convention to draft the Constitution is held.
-
A meeting was held to discuss federation. Each colony sent 7 people. They started to write a constitution which is a list of rules about how the nation's parliament will work.
-
The federation groups decided that the people of Australia should vote to decide if federation should take place.
-
Men in Western Australia get the vote.
-
Women in South Australia get the vote.
-
Premiers' conferences discuss Federation.
-
Second Convention to draft the Constitution takes place.
-
Meetings discussed the draft constitution and made changes and a new draft. Queensland was the only colony that did not send people to the meetings because some colonies were much smaller than others, it was decided to have parliament the way the United States did-the number of people from each state in the house of Representitives depends on how many people live in the state, but each state has the same number of people in the Senate.
-
People in all the colonies except Queensland and Western Australia voted on the Constitution, but in New South Wales they did not agree to what was written and the vote failed.
-
The first referendum for Federation occurs.
-
The second referendum for Federation occurs. Women in Western Australia get the vote.
-
The premiers met to discuss the things that worried those three colonies, and changes were made to the Constitution. One change was that there would be a new capital built between Sydney and Melbourne, because both thought they should be the capital city. People in all colonies except Western Australia voted for the new Constitution, and this time it was succesful.
-
Men in Tasmania get the vote.
-
A committe took the Constitution to London to persuade the British Parliament to pass a law allowing five colonies to join together to become a nation. The law was passed in May and signed by Queen Victoria in July saying that on 1st January 1901, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Soth Australia and Tasmania would become states in the Commonwealth of Australia.
-
Meanwhile, there was a gold rush in Western Australia and people from all over the country went to look for gold. The Western Australians started to change their minds about federation, and in August they voted to be part of it.
-
Each colony had its own government and laws, including its own railway system, postage stamps and tariffs (taxes). This caused a lot of problems and people began to think about the benefits of uniting as one nation, under a federal system of governance.
-
Australia becomes a nation. The Australian Government takes control of all Australian colonial army and naval forces. Australia's population reaches 3 773 801, but Aboriginal peoples are not included iin the census. The winning design for the Australian flag is announced.
-
Edmund Barton becomes Australia's first prime minister.
-
On 1st January 1901 the first Governor General, Lord Hopetoun, officially declared that there were now six states forming the Commonwealth of Australia. The first parliament was opened in Melbourne on 9th May.
-
Women get the right to vote in Australian federal elections. Women in New South Wales get the vote in their state.
-
Women in Tasmania get the vote. The High Court of Australia is formed. Alfred Deakin becomes the second prime minister of Australia.
-
The Conciliation and Arbitration Court is formed.
-
Women in Queensland get the vote. Deakin becomes prime minister for the second time.
-
Australia becomes responsible for British New Guinea.
-
Women in Victoria get the vote. The site of the national capital is chosen. Andrew Fisher becomes prime minister
-
The Commonwealth Bank was set up.
-
The Royal Australian Navy is formally established.
-
Prime Minister FIsher commits Australian forces to fighting in World War I.
