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THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA'S
FEDERATION GATEWAY


Constitutional Conventions 1890-1898 and the Constitution

The National Library holds the records of all the Conventions held between 1890-1898. Other material for this period can also be found on the Catalogue.

This guide produced by the State Library of South Australia is divided into two sections: general sources about the progress of Federation in Australia; and South Australian sources written by South Australians, or about the South Australian contribution to Federation.
The full text of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act [9th July 1900].
  • Craven, G. (ed.). (1986). Official record of the debates of the Australasian Federal Convention. Sydney: Legal Books.

(Note. Vols. 1-5 are facsimile reprints of the debates of the Conventions which framed the Australian Constitution, published between 1891 and 1898)

  • Quick, J. and Garran, R.P. (1995). The annotated constitution of the Australian Commonwealth.Sydney:Legal Books.

The records of the Australasian Federation Conference of 1890 and the Australasian Federal Conventions of 1891 and 1897/8 are among the most significant founding documents of the Australian nation. This web site provides access to the following documents: Debates and Proceedings of the Australasian Federation Conference, Melbourne, 6-14 February 1890; Debates of the National Australasian Convention, Sydney, 2 March to 9 April, 1891; and Debates of the Australasian Federal Convention of 1897/8 in three sessions.

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Members of the Australian Federal Convention 1891
By F. Godart

wood engraving;45.8 x 61.2 cm
PIC S9703
National Library of Australia
   

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