100 Years of Federation
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The publications displayed were kindly lent by Professor R.L. Sharwood. All illumniated invitations were lent for display courtesy of Miss Anne Rusden
- See also a selection of Federation Comics
| Towards Federation | |
| In May 1901, the first Australian Parliament met in Melbourne. This was the culmination of years of work towards Federation of the six Australian Colonies into one nation, the Commonwealth of Australia. From 1889, until his death in 1896, Sir Henry Parkes was a central figure in the movement towards Federation. | |
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Above: National Australasian Convention Sydney 1891 |
Above: Federal Convention Melbourne 1898 |
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Above: The Draft Bill of Constitution 1891 |
Above: The Bill for a Federal Constitution distributed to electors in Victoria for the 1898 Referendum
Elisha Hicks' copy, Professor R.L. Sharwood's grandfather. |
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Above: Mr Kingston introducing the First Commonwealth Tarriff in Melbourne 1903 |
Above: Sir Henry Parkes draft resolution as submitted to Duncan Gillies |
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Above: The Coming Event; or, The United Provinces of Australia Two Lectures by John Dunmore Lang |
Above: Letter from Sir Henry Parkes 5 March 1888
This letter is significant as it may be the first instance of the use by Parkes of the term "Australian Commonwealth". |
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Left: Members of the Federal Conference 1890.
Back:
Hon A.I. Clark MP (T), Hon Capt Russel MP (NZ), Hon Sir Samuel Griffith
MP (Q), Hon T. Playford MP (SA), Hon A. Deakin MP (V), Hon, B.S. Bird
MP (T), Mr G. H. Jenkins Secretary to Conference. |
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Above: Alfred Deakin 1856 - 1919
From "The Federal Story" by A. Deakin |
Above: Sir
Henry Parkes' draft resolution as submitted to Duncan Gillies and
Alfred Deakin on the morning of the meeting of the Federation
Conference, February 1890. |
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Above: Federal Convention Sydney
(not all delegates present) |
Above: Federal Convention S.A. Leg. Chamber
Rt Hon C.C. Kingston (S.A.) Pres |
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Above: Federal Australia Saturday February 20 1886 |
Above: The Federal Australian No 1 Vol 1 Thursday March 31 1881 |
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Above: United
Australia - Public opinion in England as expressed in leading journals
of the United Kingdom, 1890 in favour of Australian Federation. |
Above: Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 2 January 1901 Commemorative Federation Miniature Courtesy of Professor R.L. Sharwood |
| Federation Celebrations | |
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Above: Opening of First Australian Parliament 1901
Reproduced from a Photograph in the National Library. |
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Above: Programme for Federation Ceremony 1901. Official directory of invited guests. Courtesy of Bishop Grant |
Above: Programme for Federation Ceremony 2001
Courtesy of Miss Anne Rusden |
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Above: From Programme 1901 |
Above: From Programme 1901 The first Federal Ministry |
| Celebration Invitations | |
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Illuminated
invitations and admission cards for Federation celebrations, including
the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, 9 May,
1901.
Invitations and entree cards courtesy of Miss Anne Rusden |
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Above: Invitation from the Victorian Government to a Royal Review at Flemington on 10 May 1901 |
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Above: Invitation
from the Victorian Government to a Conversazione at the Exhibition
Buildings, Melbourne, on Tuesday, 7 May, 1901, two days before the
first Federal Parliament was declared open. |
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Above: Invitation
from the Federal Cabinet to an 8 pm reception in the Exhibition
Buildings on 9 May 1901 to celebrate the opening of the first Federal
Parliament. |
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- See also a selection of Federation Comics