|
Pre white settlement |
Aboriginal population living in Australia.
|
|
1600s |
European explorers such as William Dampier and
Abel Tasman map parts of Australia. |
|
1700s |
Indonesian and other Asian traders establish
contact. |
| 1788 |
Colony of New South Wales established.
|
| 1823 |
New South Wales Act
(UK) establishes powers of for a state government, Legislative Council
established in 1824. |
| 1863-1888 |
Intercolonial conferences considered uniform
tariffs and trade (Melbourne 1863, 1870); uniform postal services (Melbourne
1867); the exclusion of Chinese immigrants (Sydney 1881; Brisbane 1888); and
the establishment of a Federal Council (Sydney 1883)
Held at the
National Library: 1873 NPf 383.4994 INT 1881 MS7887 box 59 1887 N+
382.71 I61 |
|
1871 |
(Melbourne) Australian Natives' Association
(originally called the Victorian Natives' Association) established. A federated
Australia is one of its major platforms. |
|
1889 |
(Tenterfield, NSW 24 October) "The Tenterfield
oration" by Sir Henry Parkes pledges the support of NSW. After the speech the
other colonial premiers agree to an Australasian Federation Conference in
1890. |
|
1890 |
Australasian Federation Conference, Melbourne, 6-14
February, 1890. |
| 1891 |
National Australasian Convention, Sydney, 2 March to 9 April, 1891.
|
|
1893 |
(Corowa 31 July - 1 August) "Corowa Conference"
Unofficial gathering of Federation supporters who called for the election of
representatives to a constitutional convention. The final Constitution would be
put to a referendum vote (Sydney 22 June) Australasian Federation League,
chaired by Edmund Barton, established. |
|
1894 |
(Hobart 29 February) Premiers' conference
discusses the possibility of a convention of 10 elected representatives from
each colony to frame a federal constitution to be put to the popular
vote. |
|
1896 |
(Bathurst, NSW 17-21 November) "Bathurst People's
Federal Convention" Accepts the 1891 National Australasian Convention
constitution as the basis of Federation. |
|
1897-98 |
Australasian Federal
Convention of 1897/8 in three sessions:
|
|
1899-1900 |
Successful referenda on the Australian
Constitution South Australia (April 1899), New South Wales (June 1899),
Victoria and Tasmania (July 1899), Queensland (September 1899), Western
Australia (July 1900). |
|
1900 |
Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (UK) passed on 5 July, receives royal assent 9
July. |
|
1901 |
1 January Australian offically becomes a nation,
first Commonwealth Parliament meets in Melbourne on 9 May, celebrations across
the nation. |