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sir Henry Parkes gives his speech, the 'Tenterfield Oration', to people from all the colonies addressing the issue of federation. he thought it was time for Australia to federate.
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the first draft of the constitution is drawn up but is deemed not democratic enough and is made at a bad time for australia so it does not pass.
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The Australian colonies dive into an economic depression and discard most thought of federation for the time being.
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A peoples conference in Corowa NSW urges the colonies to give federation a second go and draw up a more democratic constitution.
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A conference between the Premiers of the colonies is held and they decide to hold a convention to write up a draft constitution.
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a second peoples conference is held, this time, in Bathurst and recomends that another convention is held to draw a draft of the constitution.
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The second Australian constitution convention is held in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney and the terms, conditions and laws of the constitution are decided upon.
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The premiers from each of the colonies hold a secret meeting and make several changes to the constitution.
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The people from all the colonies vote on federation. It passed with a clear majority win in all the colonies except WA.
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on the last day of July, voters in WA took to the ballot boxes and decided, by an overwhelming majority, that they would be part of Australia's federation.
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in 1901, Australia finally federated. the first parliament was held at the Melbourne Exhibition Building. It was opened by the Duke of Cornwall and York and was the start of modern australia.
