Australia's Democratic Story

1900

Australian delegates in London for debate on the Australian Constitution Bill in the British Parliament

Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK)
The original Australian Constitution Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1900, presented to Australia 90 years later

Royal Commission of Assent 9 July 1900 (UK)
Signed by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 9 July 1900, this beautiful document established the Commonwealth of Australia

Western Australia votes 'yes' in Federation referendum

Queen Victoria proclaims the inauguration day of the Commonwealth of Australia and appoints Lord Hopetoun as first Governor-General

Letters Patent constituting the office of Governor-General 29 October 1900 (UK)
Read out to the crowds at the ceremony on 1 January 1901, this document founded the first office of the new nation, that of Governor-General

Queen Victoria's Instructions to the Governor-General 29 October 1900 (UK)
Last seen in 1946 ... still searching

Governor-General appoints Edmund Barton first Prime Minister of Australia

1901

The Commonwealth of Australia is inaugurated on 1 January

King Edward VII succeeds to throne after death of Queen Victoria

First Federal election

Commonwealth Parliament opens in Melbourne

Australian flag flown for the first time

Pacific Island Labourers Act 1901 (Cth)
A document designed to deport 10 000 people

Immigration Restriction Act 1901 (Cth)
Building the walls of a White Australia that never was

1902

Women in New South Wales win right to vote in State elections

Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 (Cth)
Defining who counts in our democracy – the right to vote

1903

Women in Tasmania win right to vote in State elections

Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth)
Australians gain a High Court, and lose a Prime Minister

1904

Women in Queensland win right to vote in State elections

Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 (Cth)
A fair go – a win for the workers

1906

British New Guinea becomes Commonwealth territory of Papua

1907

Justice Higgins sets male basic wage in Harvester judgement in Conciliation and Arbitration Court

Referendum to alter Section 13 of the Australian Constitution successful

1908

Northern Territory Surrender Act 1908 (SA)
Second thoughts – a surrender

Women in Victoria win right to vote in State elections

Site of federal capital decided

1909

Seat of Government Surrender Act 1909 (NSW)
Creating federal territory

Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909 (Cth)
The fight for the Federal Capital Territory finished at last

Referendum to alter Section 105 of the Australian Constitution successful

1910

Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910 (Cth)
A national challenge

Northern Territory Administration Act 1910 (Cth)
Nuts and bolts

Referendum held on financial relations between Commonwealth and States

Aborigines Act 1910 (Vic)
A small step for humanity

1911

Transfer of the Northern Territory from South Australia to the Commonwealth

Supreme Court Ordinance No. 9 of 1911 (Cth)
Law and order

1912

Design competition for Federal capital won by Walter Burley Griffin

Special grants started by Commonwealth to Tasmania

1913

Australia's national capital founded and named Canberra

1914

Britain declares war on Germany and the countries of the Empire follow

1915

Anzacs land at Gallipoli

1916

Conscription plebiscite lost

1917

Trans-Australian Railway completed with line from South Australia to Perth

Prime Minister William M ('Billy') Hughes holds second conscription plebiscite, which is also lost

1918

Armistice suspends hostilities in war and peace negotiations begin

The 'Darwin Rebellion' – protestors remove the Northern Territory's Administrator

Aboriginals Ordinance No. 9 of 1918 (Cth)
When protection meant control

1919

Treaty of Versailles 1919 (including Covenant of the League of Nations)
The only international document to shape Australia's constitutional framework

1920

High Court decides Engineers Case, ruling that Commonwealth Arbitration Court decisions are binding on State governments

1921

Edith Cowan elected to Western Australia Parliament, first woman parliamentarian in Australia

1922

Northern Territory Representation Act 1922 (Cth)
Citizens, third class

Constitution Act Amendment Act 1922 (Qld)
A Queensland first: one House

Queensland abolishes its Legislative Council, leaving a single-chamber Parliament

1924

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1924 (Cth)
An Australian first – compulsory voting becomes law

1926

Balfour Declaration 1926 (Imperial Conference)
Equal in status … and freely associated – a small step for Britain, but a large leap for the Australian people

North Australia Commission divides the Northern Territory into northern and southern regions to promote economic development of north (abolished 1931)

High Court upholds validity of Act enabling Commonwealth grants to accelerate road building programs in the States