1912 coat of arms

Fergus Brown

By 5TShore
  • 1215

    King John

    King John is a cruel tygrant who ignored the laws of the land and the wishes of his subjects. He is often called 'The Worst King of Engand
  • 1215

    Magna Carta

    Magna Carta formally recognized rights that already existed. However in Magna Carta these rights for free men.

  • Age of Enlightenment

    John Locke was the most influential. Hes a pioneer of modern thinking. He believed in 'Natural Rights', rights ALL people should have, just because theyre people.
  • An intercolonial cricket team represented Australia in the first test match against England, increasing national pride

    An intercolonial cricket team represented Australia in the first test match against England, increasing national pride

    Sporting union predated
    federation. In 1877 an
    intercolonial cricket team
    represented Australia in
    the first test match against
    England.

  • Report released by British Major-General Sir J. Bevan Edwards found that the colonies did not have enough soldiers, arms or even ammunition to defend themselves.

    Australia was
    strengthened by a report released in 1889
    by British Major-General Sir J. Bevan
    Edwards. It found that the colonies
    did not have enough soldiers
  • Henry Parkes gave a rousing address at Tenterfield calling for ‘a great national government for all Australians’.

    Henry Parkes gave a rousing address at Tenterfield calling for ‘a great national government for all Australians’.

    Convinced the colonies would be stronger if they united, Parkes gave a rousing address at
    Tenterfield in 1889 calling for ‘a great national government for all Australians’. Parkes’ call
    provided the momentum that led to Australia becoming a nation. Aware popular support
    was not enough, Parkes lobbied his fellow premiers to back federation.

  • The first National Australasian Convention was held in Sydney and was attended by delegates from each of the colonies and the New Zealand Parliament. The delegates wrote a draft constitution

    The first National Australasian Convention
    was held in Sydney in March and April
    1891, and was attended by delegates
    from each of the colonies and the
    New Zealand Parliament.

  • The first referendums were held in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania asking the people whether Australia should federate. However, not all colonies held referendums in protest.

    In June 1898 referendums were held in New South Wales,
    Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Australia was the first
    nation to take a proposed constitution to the people for approval

  • Soldiers from the colonies who went to the Boer War in South Africa served together as Australians, increasing national pride

    In 1899 soldiers from
    the colonies who went to the Boer War in South Africa
    served together as Australians. The shift was apparent in
    contemporary songs and poems which celebrated Australia
    and Australians.

  • Second referendums were held in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania. All four colonies agreed to the proposed constitution. Western Australia still refused to take part.

    Between April and July 1899 referendums were again held in Victoria, South Australia,
    New South Wales and Tasmania, with the result that all four colonies agreed to the
    proposed constitution. Western Australia still refused to take part.

  • Queen Victoria signed The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act

    The constitution had to be agreed to by the British Parliament before federation could
    proceed. In March 1900 a delegation, which included an observer from Western Australia
    and a representative from each of the other five colonies, travelled to London to present the
    constitution to the British Parliament.

  • A referendum was finally held in Western Australia. An overwhelming majority of voters agreed to federate.

    The referendum was passed in Victoria, South Australia and
    Tasmania. However, while a majority of voters in New South Wales
    voted ‘yes’ to the referendum, it did not attract the 80 000 ‘yes’
    votes set by the New South Wales colonial parliament as the
    minimum needed for it to agree to federation. Queensland and
    Western Australia, concerned federation would give New South
    Wales and Victoria an advantage over the less-powerful states, did
    not hold referendums.

  • The Commonwealth of Australia was declared on 1 January 1901 at a ceremony held in Centennial Park in Sydney

    Australia became a nation
    on 1 January 1901 when
    six British colonies—New
    South Wales, Victoria,
    Queensland, South Australia,
    Western Australia and
    Tasmania—united to form the
    Commonwealth of Australia.
    This process is known
    as federation.