Australian Federation

Federation is one of the most important events in Australian history. The benefits of federation, to all six colonies, far outweighed the disadvantages, and led to the formation of this nation. Without a small number of pivotal people, Australia would not still be just another colony of the ever expanding British empire.

The move for federation on 1 January 1901 was a slow and laborious journey involving years of discussions, debates, conventions, referendums, hard work and determination. Australia became a federation to unite the six colonies for independence, postal services, lighthouses, immigration, quarantine, railways, rivers, defense and tariffs.

When talk began of federation South Australia was not in favor. South Australia valued its freedom from convict transportation, its tidy system of land settlement and was worried that it might be taken away by Victoria. In the late 1880Õs South Australia became a member of the Federal Council of Austral...