THE FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA

PENAL COLONY SIX SEPARATE COLONIES FEDERATION

Colonies of Australia up to 1846

COLONIES OF AUSTRALIA

But why become an independent country? There were… Arguments for it Arguments against it Issues around trade Parsaphrase key points off the following reading…

The countdown to Federation

1886 A Federal Council meets Federal council of Australasia is established. Includes delegates of 6 colonies and members from New Zealand and Fiji Agree to ask Britain that it would agree to defend the colonies Paraphrase, shorten and put on a timeline in your workbooks

1889 Henry Parkes pushes the issue Henry Parkes, a controversial politician, travels the country and encourages people to think national

1891 National Consitution Drafted A need for a ‘common language’ between politicians and business had become increasingly apparent In the midst of a recession, leading politicians from the colonies began drafting a constiution

1893 The Corowa Conference An economic conference, issues of import/export tariffs in different colonies People and goods on trains were being searched at borders of colonies Delegates from Victorian colony elect leaders for a Federal Constitutional Review

1897 – 98 Federal Constitutional Convention Constitution was redrafted and taken to five colonial governments Suggested a two house federal parliament that would represent the colonies (as states) equally This draft constitution was to be put to the voters in all colonies

1899 – mid 1900 A referendum is held Votes were cast, and after some complications, the referendum was completed by July 1900 FOR: 422788 AGAINST: 161077 (TOTAL): 583865 Only in South Australia could women vote

1900 Australia becomes a nation Group of politicians from each parliament travelled to London to have the constitution passed by the British government

1901 Federation Sir Edmund Barton sworn in as Australia’s first Prime minister 1 January 1901 marks that Australia became one country. There were celebrations all over Australia HOWEVER, Australia was still a British dominion. The Governor General, a representative of the British monarchy, still held the most power Edmund Barton John Hope (The 7th Earl of Hopetoun) First Governor General of Australia