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Western Australia was the last of the British colonies in Australia to agree to join the Federation in 1901. While the colony experienced significant changes in the late 1800s, including the right to have its own elected government and Constitution, its leaders were uncertain about Federation due to the colony's rapid growth in population and economic strength, and concerns about losing political power. Western Australia's referendum was held on 31 July 1900, with 44,800 in favour and 19,691 against. Despite initial resistance, Western Australia eventually joined the Federation, but secessionist sentiment emerged soon after, with some Western Australians feeling their interests were not adequately represented in the union.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Western Australia's government's stance on Federation | Western Australia's government was reluctant to join the Federation. |
| Reasons for Western Australia's government's stance | Western Australia was experiencing rapid growth in its population and wealth, while the other colonies were experiencing an economic depression. |
| Western Australia's government's participation in the Federation process | Western Australia's government participated in the Conventions held in the 1890s to draft an Australian Constitution and plan how a Federal Parliament would work. |
| Western Australia's voters' stance on Federation | Many people in Western Australia were strongly in favour of Federation, believing that their rights and interests would be better protected under a federal system. |
| Western Australia's referendum on Federation | Western Australia held a referendum on 31 July 1900, with 44,800 voting in favour and 19,691 against. |
| Western Australia's inclusion in the preamble of the Constitution | Western Australia is not specifically mentioned in the preamble of the Constitution because its support came too late for the document to be amended. |
| Secessionist sentiment in Western Australia | Secessionist sentiment emerged soon after Federation in 1901 and has been a recurring feature of Western Australia's political landscape. |
| Western Australia's referendum on secession | A secession referendum was held in 1933, with nearly two-thirds of electors voting in favour of secession, but efforts to implement the result were unsuccessful. |
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What You'll Learn
Western Australia's leaders were uncertain about Federation
Western Australia was the last of the British colonies in Australia to agree to join the new federation in 1901. Western Australia's leaders were uncertain about Federation and reluctant to commit to the proposed Federation of British colonies in Australasia. In the late 1800s, Western Australia experienced significant changes, including the discovery of gold in the early 1890s, which led to rapid growth in the colony's population and wealth. Farming, the timber industry, and shipping were also strong, and the colony was economically prosperous. However, the other colonies were experiencing an economic depression, which concerned some Western Australians who thought their colony’s economic and political power would be weakened if it accepted Federation.
The Western Australian Premier, John Forrest, believed that being involved in negotiations and planning would help protect his colony’s interests and reach the best possible decision. He did not want to hold a referendum on the issue of Federation, and Western Australia was one of two colonies that did not hold a referendum initially. Forrest's government put off a decision about Federation, hoping to negotiate a good deal for the colony before making any commitment. However, there were many people in Western Australia, particularly in the eastern goldfields and the port of Albany, who strongly favoured Federation, believing their rights and interests would be better protected under a federal system.
Eventually, the voters in Western Australia decided in a referendum held on 31 July 1900, weeks after the constitution received royal assent. The referendum passed with 44,800 votes in favour and 19,691 against. Most country electorates voted "No", except for Albany and the Goldfields, which voted "Yes". Western Australia's referendum was held after the British Parliament had enacted the Commonwealth Constitution Bill, and the colony's support was given too late for the document to be amended prior to enactment.
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Western Australia's referendum was held late
Western Australia was the last of the British colonies in Australia to agree to join the Federation in 1901. The Western Australian referendum was held on 31 July 1900, weeks after the Commonwealth Constitution Bill received Royal Assent on 9 July 1900. The delay in holding the referendum was due to the Western Australian Government's hesitation to commit to Federation. The government was concerned that Federation would weaken the colony's economic and political power, as it was experiencing rapid growth and wealth from the discovery of gold, while the other colonies were facing an economic depression.
The Western Australian Premier, John Forrest, did not attend the meeting of colonial premiers in January 1899, where they worked out a way to bring about Federation. However, he believed that participating in the Conventions and negotiations would help protect the colony's interests. While there was resistance to Federation among some Western Australians, many others, especially in the eastern goldfields and the port of Albany, strongly favoured it, believing that their rights and interests would be better protected under a federal system.
The referendum in Western Australia was held late, after the British Parliament had already enacted the Commonwealth Constitution Bill. This meant that Western Australia was not specifically mentioned in the preamble of the Constitution, as it was too late for the document to be amended. The referendum resulted in 44,800 votes in favour and 19,691 against, with most country electorates voting "No," except for Albany and the Goldfields, which voted "Yes."
Despite Western Australia's eventual agreement to join the Federation, secessionist sentiment emerged soon after, with the Dominion League of Western Australia established in 1930 to lobby for secession. The 1933 Western Australian secession referendum saw nearly two-thirds of electors vote in favour of secession, but efforts to implement the result were unsuccessful.
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The colony's citizens resisted Federation
Western Australia was the last of the British colonies in Australia to agree to join the new federation in 1901. The colony's citizens had resisted federation for some time, with many Western Australians thinking that their colony's economic and political power would be weakened by accepting Federation. The discovery of gold in the early 1890s had led to rapid growth in the colony's population and wealth, and its farming, timber, and shipping industries were also strong. This stood in contrast to the other colonies, which were experiencing an economic depression.
Western Australia's leaders were not convinced that their colony should federate. The colony had only recently gained self-governance, with Britain granting Western Australia the right to have its own elected government and constitution in 1890. Western Australia's Premier, John Forrest, believed that being involved in negotiations and planning would help protect his colony's interests and reach the best possible decision. Forrest did not attend a private meeting of colonial premiers in January 1899 to work out a way to bring about Federation. However, there were many people in Western Australia who did support Federation, particularly in communities around the eastern goldfields and the port of Albany, where they believed their rights and interests would be better protected under a federal system.
The referendum on Federation was passed in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, and while a majority of voters in New South Wales voted 'yes', it did not attract the 80,000 'yes' votes set by the New South Wales colonial parliament as the minimum needed for it to agree to Federation. Queensland and Western Australia did not hold referendums, with Western Australia's government putting off a decision about Federation in the hopes of negotiating a good deal for the colony before making any commitment. In the end, the voters in Western Australia decided in a referendum held on 31 July 1900, weeks after the constitution received royal assent. The result of the vote was 44,800 in favour and 19,691 against. Most country electorates voted "No", except Albany and the Goldfields, which voted "Yes".
Secessionism has been a recurring feature of Western Australia's political landscape since shortly after Federation in 1901. Western Australia was not specifically mentioned in the preamble to the Constitution as its support was given too late for the document to be amended prior to enactment. The Dominion League of Western Australia was established in 1930 to lobby for secession, and in 1933, nearly two-thirds of electors voted in favour of secession in a referendum, although efforts to implement the result proved unsuccessful.
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Secessionist sentiment arose quickly
Western Australia was the last of the British colonies in Australia to agree to join the federation in 1901. Secessionist sentiment arose quickly, driven by the negative impact of the federal government's protectionist economic policies on the state's agricultural and mining sectors. As early as 1906, the Western Australian Legislative Assembly passed a resolution calling for a secession referendum, although no action was taken by the state government.
The roots of Western Australia's resistance to Federation can be traced back to the late 1800s. In 1890, Britain granted Western Australia the right to have its own elected government and Constitution, and the colony was still establishing this new system of self-government when the other colonies began exploring the path towards Federation. Western Australia's leaders were uncertain about Federation, as the colony was experiencing rapid growth and economic prosperity due to the discovery of gold, while the other colonies were facing an economic depression. They feared that Federation would weaken their colony's economic and political power.
There were also concerns about the potential abolition of tariffs, which could deprive smaller colonies of a significant proportion of their revenue and leave them at the mercy of the larger states. Additionally, there was uncertainty about how to combine federalism with responsible government, and how to distribute excess customs duties from the central government to the states.
When the referendum on Federation was finally held in Western Australia on 31 July 1900, the vote was 44,800 in favour and 19,691 against. However, the delay in holding the referendum meant that Western Australia's support came too late for the Constitution to be amended, and the colony was not specifically mentioned in the preamble. This further fuelled secessionist sentiments, with residents of the Eastern Goldfields even organising to form a separate colony that could seek admission to the Commonwealth.
The Dominion League of Western Australia, established in 1930, played a significant role in advocating for secession. They emphasised that secession was the only solution to the state's problems, and their efforts led to the 1933 Western Australian secession referendum. Nearly two-thirds of electors voted in favour of secession, but the result was not implemented. Grievances over the federal constitution and economic policies, as well as the impact of the Great Depression, contributed to the continued support for secession in Western Australia.
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There were differing opinions and political indecision
Western Australia was the last of the British colonies in Australia to agree to join the new federation in 1901. The colony had resisted federation for some time, and its leaders were uncertain about the benefits of uniting with the other colonies. The discovery of gold in the early 1890s had led to rapid growth in Western Australia's population and wealth, while the other colonies were experiencing an economic depression. Some Western Australians thought that accepting Federation would weaken their colony's economic and political power.
There were differing opinions among the people of Western Australia. In communities around the eastern goldfields and the port of Albany, many people were strongly in favour of Federation, believing that their rights and interests would be better protected under a federal system. Pro-Federation organisations such as the Australian Natives Association and, later, the Federal League, had a lot of support in these parts of the colony.
The Western Australian Premier, John Forrest, did not attend a private meeting of colonial premiers in January 1899 to discuss how to bring about Federation. Forrest believed that being involved in negotiations and planning would help protect his colony’s interests and lead to the best possible decision. He pushed to include recent immigrants from the east on the electoral roll, ensuring that the referendum would pass.
The referendum was eventually held in Western Australia on 31 July 1900, weeks after the British Parliament had enacted the Commonwealth Constitution Bill and it had received Royal Assent. The delay caused protests and moves within the colony to join the federation by other means. For example, residents of the Eastern Goldfields began organising to form a separate colony that could seek independent admission to the Commonwealth.
Secessionist sentiment was quick to arise after Federation, driven by the detrimental impact of the federal government's protectionist economic policies on the state's agricultural and mining sectors. As early as 1906, the Western Australian Legislative Assembly passed a resolution calling for a secession referendum, although no action was taken by the state government. The Dominion League of Western Australia was established in 1930 to lobby for secession, and its efforts led state premier James Mitchell to legislate for a secession referendum in 1932. Nearly two-thirds of electors voted in favour of secession in 1933, but efforts to implement the result proved unsuccessful.
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Frequently asked questions
Western Australia was the last of the British colonies in Australia to agree to join the Federation in 1901. While there was significant resistance to the Federation, with Western Australia's leaders uncertain about the union, the referendum in 1900 saw a majority vote in favour of joining.
There were concerns that the economic and political power of the colony would be weakened by Federation, as the other colonies were experiencing an economic depression. There were also fears that the federal government would favour the interests of the larger population centres to the east.
The referendum in Western Australia was held on 31 July 1900, with 44,800 voting in favour and 19,691 against. Most country electorates voted "No", except for Albany and the Goldfields, which voted "Yes".
Western Australia's final decision to join the Federation came too late for the Constitution to be amended. As a result, the colony is not specifically mentioned in the preamble. Secessionist sentiment arose soon after Federation, with some Western Australians feeling their interests were not being served by the federal government.
Yes, there were several attempts by Western Australia to secede, including a successful but unimplemented 1933 state referendum, where nearly two-thirds of electors voted in favour of secession.
