Leslie Massey
Australia became a nation on 1 January 1901, after the British Parliament passed laws allowing the six Australian colonies to unite and form the Commonwealth of Australia. Federation was a significant political achievement that led to the creation of a national parliament and an Australian Constitution, which divided law-making powers between the states and the new parliament. This event was the culmination of years of deliberation, consultation, and public votes, with many Australians actively involved in the Federation movement through federal leagues, clubs, and societies. The process of Federation aimed to address intercolonial issues and establish a united defence force, but it also carried the sentiment of restricting non-white immigration, as reflected in the early enactment of the White Australia policy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Formation of a nation | Australia became a nation on 1 January 1901, uniting six colonies to form the Commonwealth of Australia |
| Self-governance | Australia gained significant self-governance, though the British monarch remained the head of state |
| Federal structure | A federal system was established, with a national Parliament and an Australian Constitution dividing law-making powers between the former colonies (now states) and the new Parliament |
| Law enforcement | The federal government was empowered to make laws for Australia's territories, but it lacked the authority to enact special laws for Indigenous people until a 1967 referendum |
| Immigration | The White Australia Policy was enacted, reflecting a desire to restrict non-white immigration |
| Defence | The need for a unified defence force was emphasised, advocating for 'one great Federal army' |
| Customs duties | The federal government collected customs and excise tariffs, returning three-quarters back to the states |
| Elections | The first federal election was held on 29-30 March 1901 |
| Citizenship | Australians remained British citizens until the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948, which established separate Australian citizenship |
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What You'll Learn
Australia became a nation
The colonies that came together to form the Commonwealth of Australia were New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, and Western Australia. Western Australia had resisted Federation for some time and only voted on the issue on 31 July 1900, joining the new nation after being promised a railway link to the eastern states.
The Federal Council of Australasia was formed in 1885 to address intercolonial issues, but it dissolved in 1889 due to non-participation by New South Wales, New Zealand, and, temporarily, South Australia. In 1889, Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of the Colony of New South Wales, gave his famous 'Tenterfield Address', highlighting the need for 'one great Federal army' for Australia's defence and calling for an Australasian convention to develop a constitution for a federal government and parliament.
The first federal election took place on 29-30 March 1901, with Edmund Barton continuing as Prime Minister. The first federal parliament was opened on 9 May 1901, and one of its first actions was to enshrine the White Australia policy in law. The federal government gained the power to make laws for Australia's territories, but it did not have the power to make special laws for Indigenous people until a referendum in 1967.
While Australia became largely self-governing, the British monarch remained the head of state, and Australians remained British citizens until the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1948.
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The colonies unified
Australia became a unified nation on 1 January 1901, after the British Parliament passed laws allowing the six colonies to come together and form the Commonwealth of Australia. Federation was a remarkable political achievement, bringing an end to years of inter-colonial jostling over individual interests.
The process of unification began in 1885 with the formation of the Federal Council of Australasia, which aimed to resolve issues between the colonies, including customs duties and defence. However, the council dissolved in 1889 due to the non-participation of New South Wales, New Zealand, and, for a time, South Australia. In the same year, Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of the Colony of NSW, gave a famous speech known as the 'Tenterfield Oration', highlighting the need for 'one great Federal army' and calling for an Australasian convention to develop a constitution for a federal government and parliament.
The movement for Federation gained momentum in the 1890s, with the formation of federal leagues, clubs, and societies advocating for unification. In 1898, referendums were held in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, with enthusiastic campaigns urging people to vote 'yes' or 'no'. Despite opposition from anti-Federation groups, the referendum passed in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, and a majority of voters in New South Wales also supported it. To win the support of New South Wales and Queensland, colonial premiers made further changes to the draft constitution, including establishing the national capital within New South Wales and agreeing to return customs and excise tariffs to the states for the first ten years of Federation.
Western Australia, which had resisted Federation, only voted on the issue on 31 July 1900, after being induced by a promise from the new Commonwealth government to build a railway link to the eastern states. The first federal election took place on 29-30 March 1901, and the first federal parliament was opened on 9 May 1901, marking the beginning of a unified Australia.
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A national government formed
Australia became a nation on 1 January 1901, after the British Parliament passed laws allowing the six Australian colonies to unite and form the Commonwealth of Australia. Federation created a national parliament and an Australian Constitution, which divided law-making powers between the states and the new parliament.
The process of Federation was a long one, with many years of discussion, debate, and public votes. The first step towards Federation was the formation of the Federal Council of Australasia in 1885, which aimed to resolve intercolonial issues. However, due to the non-participation of New South Wales, New Zealand, and South Australia, it was dissolved in 1889. In the same year, Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of the Colony of NSW, gave a famous speech known as the "Tenterfield Oration", in which he called for a national government and highlighted the need for "one great Federal army" for Australia's defence. This sparked a movement for Federation, with federal leagues, clubs, and societies advocating for a unified Australia in the 1890s.
In 1898, referendums were held in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania to approve the proposed constitution. The referendum was passed in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, and while a majority of voters in New South Wales voted 'yes', it did not meet the minimum threshold set by the colonial parliament. The colonial premiers met privately in 1899 to make changes to the draft constitution, including establishing the Australian national capital within New South Wales and agreeing to return customs and excise tariffs to the states for the first 10 years of Federation.
On 31 July 1900, Western Australia, which had resisted Federation, voted on the issue, and the new nation's constitution received royal assent. The English-born Earl of Hopetoun was appointed Australia's first Governor-General, and he swore in the first federal ministry on 31 December 1900, with Edmund Barton as caretaker Prime Minister. The Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed the following day, and the first federal election took place in March 1901, with Barton continuing as Prime Minister. The first federal parliament was opened in the Melbourne Royal Exhibition Building on 9 May 1901.
While Australia became largely self-governing after Federation, the British monarch remained the head of state, retaining some governing powers. The federal government was given the power to make laws for Australia's territories, but it did not have the power to make special laws for Indigenous people until a referendum in 1967. States retained control over matters such as police, hospitals, education, and public transport.
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The White Australia policy was enacted
Australia became a nation on 1 January 1901, after the British Parliament passed laws allowing the six Australian colonies to unite and form the Commonwealth of Australia. The process of federation involved years of deliberation, consultation, debate, public votes, and referendums. One of the key changes that occurred following federation was the enactment of the White Australia policy.
The White Australia policy was a set of laws and regulations that restricted non-white immigration to Australia and aimed to maintain a predominantly white population in the country. It was a product of the racial attitudes of the time and the belief that Australia's national identity was closely tied to whiteness. The policy had far-reaching consequences, shaping the demographic makeup of the country and contributing to a legacy of racial exclusion and discrimination.
The policy was implemented through a variety of measures, including immigration restrictions, naturalisation barriers, and racial segregation. One of the key tools used to enforce the policy was the dictation test, which allowed immigration officials to deny entry to anyone who failed to pass a test in any European language. This test was applied in a discriminatory manner, targeting individuals based on their race or ethnicity rather than their actual language skills.
The White Australia policy remained in place for several decades, shaping the country's demographic landscape and contributing to a legacy of racial exclusion. It was gradually dismantled through legislative changes, with significant reforms occurring in the 1960s and 1970s. The policy's dismantling reflected a shift in societal attitudes and a growing recognition of the inherent racism and injustice of such policies.
The enactment of the White Australia policy was a significant development in Australia's history, reflecting the complex interplay between national identity, racial attitudes, and immigration policies. While the policy aimed to preserve a particular vision of Australia, it also led to the marginalisation and exclusion of non-white individuals and communities, underscoring the ongoing struggle for racial equality and social justice in the country.
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The British monarch remained head of state
Australia became a nation on 1 January 1901, when the British Parliament passed laws allowing the six Australian colonies to unite and form the Commonwealth of Australia. Despite this significant change, the British monarch remained the head of state.
The new Commonwealth of Australia was largely self-governing, but it retained close ties to Britain and its empire. The British monarch retained some governing powers that placed them above all other levels of the Australian government, although these powers were rarely used. The first federal election took place on 29-30 March 1901, with Edmund Barton continuing as Prime Minister. The first federal parliament was opened by the Duke of York in the Melbourne Royal Exhibition Building on 9 May 1901.
The process of federation was a remarkable political achievement. Colonies had previously competed to protect their interests, with New South Wales vying with Victoria for influence, and smaller colonies fearing that their interests would be overlooked. Consensus was reached through years of discussion, debate, and public votes. The federal government was given the power to make laws for Australia's territories, but it did not have the power to make special laws for Indigenous people, an issue that was not rectified until a referendum in 1967.
Although Australians governed themselves and were largely independent after federation, they remained British citizens until the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948, which provided for separate Australian citizenship.
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Frequently asked questions
Federation brought about the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia, with the six colonies uniting to form a nation. Australia became largely self-governing, with a new national Parliament and an Australian Constitution dividing law-making powers between the states and the new parliament.
The British monarch remained the head of state, with some governing powers, but these were rarely used. Australia retained close ties to the British Empire, with Australians remaining British citizens until the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1948.
The process of Federation involved years of discussion, debate, and public votes. The Federal Council of Australasia was formed in 1885 to address intercolonial issues, but it dissolved in 1889. The 'Tenterfield Address' by Sir Henry Parkes in 1889 advocated for a national government and a united army. The draft constitution was agreed upon in 1898, and referendums were held in 1898 and 1899, leading to the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901.
