Federation

Although the colonies had developed separately, by the late 19th century, a common sense of national belonging had developed.

Towards the end of the 19th century, two attempts were made to bring the colonies together. In 1889, Sir Henry Parkes called for the formation of a strong new nation. The Australasian Federation Conference was held in 1890 to discuss the idea of an Australian federation.

In 1893, the move towards federation gathered speed after some delays. Electors chose the members of the next constitutional convention. Electors voted in two rounds of referendums to accept a new Australian Constitution.

The British Government agreed that Australia could govern itself. On 1 January 1901, Edmund Barton, who had led the movement for federation in New South Wales, became Australia’s first Prime Minister. His government was sworn in before a huge crowd in Sydney’s Centennial Park.

Australia was now a nation within the British Empire. It did not acquire full powers over defence and foreign affairs until 1931. Until the 1948 Australian Citizenship Act, Australians were still British subjects rather than Australian citizens. Although national feeling had grown, the sense of being British was still strong.

Edith Cowan (1861–1932)

Edith Cowan was the first woman elected into an Australian Parliament and is featured on Australia’s fifty-dollar note.

Edith was prominent in the women’s suffrage movement, and was a leading advocate for public education and the rights of children. Edith was made a magistrate in 1915 and a justice of the peace in 1920. In 1921, Edith was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia as a member of the Nationalist Party.