Defining Moments: Australian Federation

Australia federated in 1901. See this defining moment in Australia’s history brought to life, as told by historian David Hunt.

Activities

1. What groups supported the idea of Federation and what were their arguments in favour of this change?

2. Who was Henry Parkes and what role did he play in helping the push towards Federation?

3. The narrator calls the new Australian Constitution that was drafted in the 1890s a ‘Frankenstein constitution’. What do you think he means by this?

In our collection

A silver souvenir teaspoon with a chipped blue enamel shield at top of handle. The shield features part of Union Jack and a horizontal and vertical row of three stars forming a cross. Text in ribbons within shield read 'ONE PEOPLE / ONE DESTINY / ONE FLAG'. The back of the shield is hallmarked with a crown, lion, letter 'g' or 'q', and a pennant. 'RD. NO. 348138' is impressed in the back of the handle's shaft.

Federation souvenir teaspoon

A red, blue, black and cream coloured federation bunting. The bunting features a Union Jack with a portrait of the Duke and Duchess of York in centre surrounded by an emu, kangaroo, Australian state flags and a lion and crown. Black text below associated flags reads from left to right 'WESTERN AUSTRALIA', 'QUEENSLAND', 'NEW SOUTH WALES', 'VICTORIA', 'SOUTH AUSTRALIA', 'TASMANIA'. Black text in ribbons below portrait reads 'FOR QUEEN & EMPIRE / FEDERATED AUSTRALIA'. A cord is sewn into the left hand edge.

Federation-era bunting

A gold coloured, shield-shaped, Australian Commonwealth Federation souvenir medallion with a crown and suspender ring at the top. In the centre of one side is a portrait of the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall and York. Text above reads 'OPENING OF THE FIRST / FEDERAL PARLIAMENT'. Text below reads 'T.R.H. / THE DUKE & DUCHESS OF CORNWALL / AND YORK / MELBOURNE, MAY, 1901'. On the opposite side is a portrait of Queen Victoria and Edward VII. Text above reads 'AUST. COMMONWEALTH / EST. 1. JAN. 1901 / 63D. OF VICTOR

Australian Commonwealth Federation medallion

A commemorative Federation mug with portraits of Sir Henry Parkes and the Governor-General, Lord Hopetoun.

Commemorative mug for the Federation of Australia in 1901

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Related resources

1901

Federation of the Australian colonies

Federation begins

1.3 What was ‘Federation’?

Year 6

An anti-Chinese cartoon titled ‘The Mongolian Octopus’, published in the <i>Bulletin</i> in 1886.