-
April
The Queensland government under Sir Thomas McIlwraith annexes New Guinea for the British Crown to pre-empt German seizure. The British reversal of this action emphasises the powerlessness of any one colony to act unilaterally -
August 14th
on 14 August and after the colonies passed adopting acts, the Federal Council was formed. New South Wales, New Zealand and South Australia (except for 1888-1890), however, all refrained from joining the Council -
January 26
The Federal Council of Australasia holds its inaugural meeting in Hobart on 26 January. In this same year, France annexes the New Hebrides. -
24th October
Sir Henry Parkes urges colonies to Federate. He made a speech at Tenterfield in which he urged all colonial governments to unite and create a National Government for Australia. -
6-14 February
on the 6-14 February, the Australasian Federation Conference is held, also in Melbourne. Henry Parkes invites representative and influential 'public men' from the colonial governments and New Zealand. -
1891
The Australian Labor Party takes shape through Labor Electoral Leagues in New South Wales and the United Labor Party in South Australia. Other colonies follow on the initiative of trade union groups as it becomes apparent that the shearers' and maritime workers' strikes have failed. -
31 July and 1 August 1892-93
The Australasian Federation League (AFL) is formed. With the ANA, it helps to keep alive a feeble consciousness of federation, as banks close, businesses collapse, British investment slows and immigration is halted. On 31 July and 1 August 1893, the Corowa conference takes place. Delegates from the AFL and the ANA support John Quick's initiative to have each parliament legislate for election of representatives to a constitutional convention. -
March
March: Elections to choose convention delegates held in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia delegates elected by parliament. -
22 March– 23 April
First session of the National Australian Convention is held in Adelaide to work towards a Federal Constitution. All colonies except Queensland attended. -
1897-98
Parkes as president, the National Australian Convention was convened at Parliament House in Sydney between March and April 1891. Delegates from each colony, and also from New Zealand, decided on the name the Commonwealth of Australia. -
1898–1900
The first referendum fails in New South Wales after which Reid sets out to repair the damage, using a Melbourne session of the now decrepit Federal Council as his forum. Subsequent referendums successfully secure the cause of federation. -
29 January - 2 February
The Premiers of all the six colonies meet in Melbourne to discuss changes to the proposed Constitution. Because it is a private meeting, it is called the ÔSecret Premiers' Conference. The meeting agrees to some changes to meet the concerns of Queensland and New South Wales. -
1st January
on the 1st of January 1901 when the British Parliament passed legislation allowing the six Australian colonies to govern in their own right as part of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Commonwealth of Australia was established as a constitutional monarchy.