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John West
John West started to argue the case for federation in Launceston's 'Examiner', 'Sydney Morning Herald' and Hobart's 'Colonial Times'. Congregationalist minister and Journalist Rev John West, the man who created the anti-transportation League in Launceston in the year of 1847, became persuaded of the need for the colonies to form a federal union if they were to have any influence in London on such issues. -
1st Sustained Campaign Created
Mcllwraith and Service began the 1st sustained campaign for federal union. Mcllwraith and Vic premier James service used the new Guinea issue and the French threat to annex the New Hebrides to convince New South Wales to hold an inter colonial convention in Sydney. Service and the new QLD premier, Samuel Griffin, were greatly responsible for the representatives agreement to form a federal council. -
An attempt to establish Australasian Federal Council Past the British Parliament.
An act to establish Australasian Federal Council passed by the British Parliament. Formed to provide a means of legislating on external matters like quarantine, defense and pacific relations, the council involved Fiji which first came in 1888. SA joined in in 1890 and New South Wales and New Zealand never became part and this limited it's effectiveness. Henry Parkes opposed the council and most offerings for inter colonial cooperation until the year od 1889. -
Meeting in Adelaide
A conference was held in Adelaide with three Australian chambers. This was a pro-federation conference (which meant they were going to end the tariff war) and they formed an Australian Federal Union -
Speech at Tenterfield
Henry Parkes made a speech in Tenterfield asking all of the governments to work together and create a government for all of Australia. The speech showed that at last he was ready to cooperate, speaking for New South Wales, with all of the others colonies prepared for federation. -
Inter colonial conference was held
An inter colonial conference of Municipalities and delegates from federation leagues Australasian Federation held in the Town Hall in Melbourne. Municipal associations were also brought into the movement of federation. -
Federation Meeting
Australian Federation League of Victoria arranged a large federation meeting at the Town Hall of Melbourne. The meeting was addressed by premiers of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. An AFL of South Australia was created in the same year. -
Federation League formed
Formation of the Federation League of Southern Tasmania, the league was named 'The Federalist'. -
Letters got read out
The Letters Patent and Proclamation and Commission of of governor-general got read out and the 9 members of the interim federal ministry had been sworn in when the prime minister was Edmund Barton. -
The first federal election was held
The first federal election was held. Because a clause in the constitution gave voting rights to people so they could vote for the lower house of their state Parliament, Aboriginal Australians and women were able to vote with men in this election. -
First federal parliament opened
The duke of York opened the first federal parliament inside the exhibition building in Melbourne. The Federal parliament get together in Melbourne's parliament house until 1927. The head quarters of most of the Commonwealth departments were established in Melbourne as well. In 1901 there were 8 departments that were established there.