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First Session of the National Australian Convention
The first session of the Australian National Convention was held in Adelaide, South Australia, to work towards a Federal Constitution. All colonies attented this convention except Queensland. -
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Second Session of the Convention
The second session of the National Australian Convention was held in Sydney N.S.W. -
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Final Session of the National Australian Convention
The third and final session of the Australian Convention was held in Melbourne Victoria. Delegates agreed on a draft consitution. -
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Secret Premiers Meeting
The Premiers of all of the six colonies meet in Melbourne,Victoria to discuss changes to the proposed constitution. It's called the secret Premiers Conference. The meeting agrees with a few changes to meet the concerns of Queensland and N.S.W. It also decides to have a Federal Capital in N.S.W but not within 100 miles of Sydney. -
The South Australian Federation
The South Australian referendum about federation is won. -
Referendum
The Victorian and Tasmanian Referendums are won. -
Queensland Referendum
The Queensland referendum is won. -
Constitution Bill
The Constitution Bill is passed in Queensland. -
Enactment of Constitution
Australian delegates are invited to London to negotiate the enactment of the Constitution Bill. -
London Delegates Meeting
The first delegates meeting is held in London -
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State Premiers Conference
A conference of state Premiers was held in Melbourne, Victoria, to support the delegates in London. The meeting confirmed that the delegates mission is to have the Constitution Bill passed in London in the form that the Australian people voted for. -
Commonwealth Bill Introduced
The Commonwealth Bill is introduced into the House of Representatives. -
The Commonwealth Of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution act is passed by the British parliament. -
Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria gives her royal approval to the act. -
The Western Australian
The Western Australian referendum is won. -
Queen Victorias Proclamation
Queen Victoria proclaims that the Commonwealth of Australia,
made up of all six colonies, will come into existence on 1 January 1901. -
The First Governor -General
Lord Hopetoun is appointed first Governor-General of Australia. -
First Prime Minister
The Commonwealth of Australia is proclamied in Centennial Park, Sydney. Edmond Barton was sworn in as Australias firt Prime Minister. -
Death of Queen Victoria
On this day Queen Victoria dies. She is suceeded by Edward VII. -
Commonwealth Goverment Takes Control
The Commonwealth Goverment takes control of a wide range of functtions formerly run by the colonies,inclunding military forces,postal and customs departments and immigration.The Commonwealth's constitional powers include the power to legislate about trade with other countries and among the states. -
The First Election
The first Australian election is held. Adult men are allowed to vote in all states. Aborigines and women are allowed to vote only in some states. -
Census
A Census shows that the population of Australia is 3,773,807 but
Aborigines were not counted. -
Federal Parliament
The first Federal Parliament is opened by the Duke of York [later GeorgeV] at the exhibition building in Melbourne. Federal Parliament is to meet in Melbourne until 1927. Then the capital moved to Canberra. -
New National Flag
Australia's new national flag was flown for the first time.There were 32,823 entries in the competition for it's design.