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Sir Henry Parkes, gives a speech in Tenterfield in 1889 that begins public debate about the possibility of federation
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In 1890 a conference in Melbourne agrees that a draft Australian Constitution should be written
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A conference to draw up the new constitution is held in Sydney
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The final touches to Australia's first federal constitution are completed in Easter
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A severe economic recession hits the colonies during 1892 to 1893
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A conference in the town of Corowa in 1893 revives the federation movement with a proposal that the people should elect delegates who would decide the best model of government
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In early 1895 all colonial premiers meet in Hobart and agree that the resolution from the Corowa conference should proceed
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In 1897 the people of NSW , VIC, TAS, SA elect delegates to attend the National Australiasian
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Helen Spence campaigns in the 1897 elections to become a delegate for SA. In doing so, she becomes the first woman in the British Empire to run for political office
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In March-April 1897 the National Australiasian Convention meets in Adelaide and decides on the best model for the new federal government
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The people of NSW, VIC, TAS, SA vote in a referendum in 1898 to ecide if they agree with the model of governmentchosen by the national Australiasian Convention
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A second referendum is nessarsary and is held in NSW, VIC, SA, QLD during 1899
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Queen Victoria agrees to the new constitution in 1900 and WA decides to join the federation.
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Federation between all colonies is declared on the 1st January 1901