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Australian Electoral Commission
1891
first Constitutional Convention to draft a federal constitution
1893
first "people's convention" at Corowa
1897
delegates elected to a representative Constitutional Convention
1898–1900
referendums on the Constitution held in all colonies
1901
1 January – inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia
29–30 March – first federal election
9 May – opening of Commonwealth Parliament in Melbourne
1902
Commonwealth Franchise and Commonwealth Electoral Acts
1903
first federal election in accordance with Commonwealth law
R. Coupe, Achieving Nationhood: The story of Federation, New Holland Publishers Australia, 2000. School audience.
Kathleen Dermody, A nation at last: The story of Federation, AGPS, 1997.
Maryellen Davidson, Federation then and now, McGraw-Hill Australia, 1999. School audience.
Stacey Hattensen and Robyn Platt, Australians All! Discovering Democracy Australian Readers Lower Primary, Commonwealth of Australia, 2001. Curriculum Corporation (03) 9207 9600.
Humphrey McQueen, Federation in its time and ours, The Social Educator, Vol. 19 No. 1, March 2001, Social Education of Australia, 150 Palmerston Street, Carlton, VIC 3053.
Tessa Milne, Archways to Federation – the story of the celebratory arches of 1901, 1901 Centre, 2000. University of Technology, PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007.
R. Russell & P. Chubb, One Destiny! The Federation Story – how Australia became a nation, Penguin Books, 1998. Companion to CDROM, Global Vision, 1997. 383 Swan Street, Richmond, VIC 3121.
Gavin Souter, Acts of Parliament: A narrative history of Australia’s federal legislature, Melbourne University Press, 1988. Especially chapter one.
Pat Stretton and Christine Finnimore, How South Australian Aborigines lost the vote: Some side effects of federation, Old Parliament House, Adelaide, 1991. History Trust of South Australia (08) 8226 8554.
1901 and all that: A federation resource kit, National Archives of Australia, 2000. PO Box 7425, Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610, (02) 6212 3600.
Mark Blencowe, Votes for Women: An historical perspective, Votes for women: State by state, The Ausfolio, Vol 2 No. 1, Special Bonus Issue, SOCOM Educational Resources, South Australia.
Centenary of Federation fact sheets and other materials, National Council for the Centenary of Federation, 2000. Old Parliament House, King George Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600, (02) 6270 8173. http://www.centenary.gov.au
Centenary of Federation – 2001, special issue, Ethos 2000, Victorian Association of Social Studies Teachers Inc., 150 Palmerston Street, Carlton VIC 3053, lojo@primus.com.au
Federation and the People's Vote 1897–1903, Australian Electoral Commission Education Section, 2001. Exhibition, brochure, fact sheets, activity sheets, (02) 6271 4440.
Federation: A three-part journey to nationhood (the land, the people, the nation), 170 mins. Film Australia, 2000. (02) 9413 8777. sales@filmaust.com.au
Teachers' notes: http://www.filmaust.com.au/teachers.html
Federation! But who makes the nation? Museums and Galleries Foundation of NSW, 2001, (02) 9358 1760. Regional touring exhibition – various NSW centres. Catalogue developed as education resource available at http://www.mgfnsw.org.au
The AEC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.