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When voting starts
Voting begins in the first election for the NSW Legislative Council. Created by the New South Wales Constitution Act 1842.The Council is Australia’s first semi-representative legislature and lays the groundwork for the parliamentary system. It does not grant full responsible government, but it enables the first election to be held for the two-thirds elected NSW Legislative Council. -
The Australian version of the secret ballot was introduced
The Australian version of the secret ballot was introduced in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Its defining feature was the government–supplied ballot paper containing candidates’ names. It was adopted around the world and became known as the Australian Ballot. -
The intercolonial conference
In January 1881, an inter-colonial conference was held in Sydney to discuss the particular issue of customs duties. Despite the conference being called to address this contentious issue, it went down in history as the first time the idea of a federal council was put forward. The Premier of New South Wales, Sir Henry Parkes (also known as the 'Father of Federation'), was responsible for the idea of creating a council which was designed to resolve inter-colonial issues. -
Intercolonial collaboration
New South Wales, New Zealand and South Australia (except for 1888-1890), however, all refrained from joining the Council. It was said that the absence of New South Wales, that was the most powerful colony at the time, had a severe and fatal impact on the Council which later disintegrated in 1889. Despite also being flawed by having no executive powers and no revenue of its own, the Federal Council was the first kind of inter-colonial collaboration. -
The campaign for federation
Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, urges the colonies to federate and Henry Parkes campaigns for Federation in his Tenterfield Oration. -
The federation conference
The Australasian Federation Conference recommends a national convention be held to draft a constitution for the Commonwealth of Australia. -
Unsuccessful referendum on the Constitution Bill in New South Wales.
Unsuccessful referendum on the Constitution Bill in New South Wales. Successful referendums in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Premiers’ ‘secret’ conference, Melbourne, agrees to amend the Constitution Bill. 1881 In January. -
Austalia becomes a nation
Federation; Australia becomes a nation when the six colonies unite. The first Parliament is elected and Edmund Barton becomes Prime Minister. -
The right for women to vote
Parliament passes the Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902, which gives women from all states in Australia the right to vote at federal elections. It excludes 'aboriginal natives of Australia, Africa, Asia or the Islands of the Pacific except New Zealand' from enrolling to vote. -
The first Constitutional referendum
The first Constitutional referendum for the Commonwealth was held on 12 December in conjunction with the second federal election under federal law.