A Federation Timeline
1847
Earl Grey, British Colonial Secretary, suggested the need to establish
a 'federal authority' to govern Australia.
1851
Victoria separated from NSW to form its own colonial government.
1859
Queensland separated from NSW to form its own colonial government.
1867
Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, suggested the colonies "...
be united by some federal bond of connection".
1871
The Australian Natives' Association (ANA), a popular movement of Australian-born,
white men was established in Melbourne. The ANA and, later, the Australasian
Federation League were founded to promote the vision of one united Australia.
1877
A combined NSW and Victoria cricket team defeated England in the first
cricket test played in Australia. The concept of a nationally representative
cricket team was established.
1885
The Federal Council of Australasia was formed. This Council of colonial
governments, and also including New Zealand and Pacific membership,
was shunned by NSW and South Australia.
1889
9 October - Report suggested that colonies should federate for defence
reasons.
24 October - Tenterfield Oration - Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of NSW
proclaimed that the time for federation has arrived.
1890
Australasian Federation Conference, Melbourne - delegates decided to
call a Constitutional Convention to discuss and draft a constitution
for a federal system of government.
1891
National Australasian Convention, Sydney - parliamentary delegates agreed
to adopt the name "Commonwealth of Australia" and a draft constitution
was written aboard the steamboat, Lucinda, on the Hawkesbury River.
This draft provided the basis for all future redrafting. Australians
now had a draft constitution but it was not adopted by the colonial
parliaments. Progress towards Federation was stalled by the colonies'
concerns about their own status within a Federation. Popular support
for Federation led to the formation of the Australasian Federation Leagues,
and it was the people who continued the push for Federation.
1893
Corowa Conference - the first of the "peoples' conventions" - convened
by the Australasian Federation League - endorsed Dr John Quick's plan
for practical measures to break the legislative impasse by electing
a new convention.
1895
"Hobart Understanding of the Premiers" - Most Premiers approved a draft
Enabling Bill based on Quick's plan.
1896
Enabling Acts were passed in SA, NSW, Tas. and Vic. These prepared the
way for the popular election of delegates to a national convention to
draft a constitution.
"The People's Federal Convention" in Bathurst - spurred popular interest
in electing delegates to the national convention.
1897
Elections were held in the colonies to select delegates to the national
Australasian (Constitutional) Convention. Delegates met in 1897 in Adelaide
and then in Sydney before they agreed on a federal constitution to be
put to the people of the colonies in referenda.
1898
Delegates to the Australasian (Constitutional) Convention met for the
third session in Melbourne. Delegates agreed to revise and amend the
draft constitution. They adopted the amended draft Constitution Bill
on 16 March in the form of a Bill to be lodged for enactment by the
British Parliament, if supported by the people in referenda.
Referenda were held. Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria returned
'Yes' votes in favour of adopting the new federal constitution. NSW
failed to attract the minimum number of 'Yes' votes and the Bill was
not carried.
1899
January - Premiers' Conference, Melbourne - Premiers agreed to amend
the Federal Constitution Bill to meet the concerns of QLD and NSW. All
colonies (except WA) supported the Bill and agreed to sponsor its enactment
in the British Parliament.
April/September - 'Yes' votes carried in referenda in NSW, VIC, SA,
TAS and QLD.
1900
March /July - Australian delegates in London negotiated the passage
of the Federal Constitution Bill through the British Parliament and
then witnessed Queen Victoria sign the documents and grant Royal Assent.
The proclamation was made that the Commonwealth of Australia would come
into being on 1 January 1901.
July - Western Australia voted 'Yes' to join the Federation of Australian
States and was added to the Royal Assent documents after the Queen had
already signed them.
1901
January - Lord Hopetoun, the first Governor-General, proclaimed the
Commonwealth of Australia at a ceremony in Centennial Park, Sydney.
The interim Federal Ministry was sworn in, with Sir Edmund Barton as
Prime Minister. The ceremony took place before a crowd of 250,000 people.
Customs duties payable on products moving between States were eliminated,
boosting Australian manufacturing.
William Farrer released his Federation strain of rust-resistant wheat.
May 9 - Australia's first Federal Parliament was opened in its temporary
home in Melbourne by the Duke of York.
