made for a school project

Ben and Cameron

1889

Tenterfield oration

Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, gave a speech calling for ‘a great national government for all Australians’. This helped spark the Federation movement.

1897-98

Second National Australasian Convention

Representatives from each of the colonies (except Queensland and New Zealand, who had pulled out of the process) agreed to changes to the draft constitution.

1898

First referendum

Voters in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania were asked to approve a constitution for the new nation.

1899

Secret premiers’ conference

In order to win the support of the New South Wales and Queensland premiers, changes were agreed to the draft constitution, including the location of the new national capital.

1899

Second referendum

All the colonies except Western Australia held referendums to approve to the proposed constitution and all the colonies agreed.

1901

Western Australia holds referendum

On 1 January 1901, the colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia united and became the states of Australia, known as the Commonwealth of Australia.