Australia became a nation on 1 January 1901 when six British colonies—New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania—united to form the Commonwealth of Australia. This process is known as Federation.
Reasons for Federation
For at least 40,000 - 60,000 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived on these lands and practiced traditional cultures and languages. From the late 1700s, British colonies were established. By the late 1800s, these colonies had their own parliaments but were still subject to the law-making power of the British Parliament.
The colonies were almost like six separate countries; for example, each had its own government and laws, its own defense force, issued its own stamps and collected tariffs – taxes – on goods that crossed its borders. The colonies had even built railways using different gauges, which complicated the transport of people and goods across the continent.
By the 1880s the inefficiency of this system, a growing unity among colonists and a belief that a national government was needed to deal with issues such as trade, defense and immigration saw popular support for Federation grow. Sir Robert Garran, who was active in the Federation movement, later reflected that the colonies were united by a combination of 'fear, national sentiment and self-interest'.
Free Trade
While tariffs provided the colonial governments with much revenue, they restricted trade and movement between the colonies. Tariffs increased the cost of goods and made it hard for manufacturers based outside a colony to compete with local producers. Trade restrictions also made traveling between colonies difficult; the train journey between Melbourne and Sydney was delayed at the border in Albury while customs officials searched passengers' luggage.
Free traders were among the most vocal supporters of Federation. They argued abolishing tariffs and creating a single market would strengthen the economy of each colony.
Defense
Prior to Federation, the colonies were ill-equipped to defend themselves. Each colony had its own militia consisting of a small permanent force and volunteers, but they all relied on the British navy to periodically patrol the Australian coastline. People feared the colonies could be vulnerable to attack from other nations with larger populations and military forces.
The colonies thought a united defense force could better protect Australia. This argument was strengthened by a report released in 1889 by British Major-General Sir J. Bevan Edwards.
The Constitution
The Australian Constitution was drafted at a series of constitutional conventions held in the 1890s. It was passed by the British Parliament as part of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 and took effect on 1 January 1901. The Constitution established a federal system of government, under which powers are divided between the federal government and the states.
The Constitution sets out the basis for Australia's federal system of government and establishes the framework for the Australian Parliament, the executive government and the judiciary. It also outlines the powers of the federal government and those reserved for the states.
The Constitution can only be changed through a referendum, in which a majority of voters in a majority of states must agree to the proposed change.
The First Federal Parliament
The first federal election was held on 29 and 30 March 1901. The first federal parliament was opened on 9 May 1901 in Melbourne by the Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V). In 1927, the Parliament moved to its permanent home in Canberra.
The first Prime Minister of Australia was Edmund Barton, who led a Protectionist Party government. The first Leader of the Opposition was George Reid, who led the Free Trade Party.
Conclusion
The Federation of Australia was a significant event in Australian history. It brought together six separate colonies to form a single nation, with a federal system of government that has endured for over a century. The reasons for Federation were many and varied, including a desire for free trade, improved defense and greater unity among colonists. The process of Federation involved extensive deliberation, consultation and debate, culminating in the drafting of the Australian Constitution and its passage by the British Parliament. Since Federation, Australia has grown and developed into a prosperous and successful nation.