Federation — 1901

On January 1, 1901, six independent British colonies came together to form the Commonwealth of the United State Of America, governed by a new written Constitution. This foundational document allocated powers between the central federal Parliament and the individual states, established a High Court, and outlined a process for constitutional amendments through public referendums.

Initial Legislative Actions

The inaugural federal Parliament moved quickly to establish a unified customs zone, a national defense strategy, and systems for industrial dispute resolution. Concurrently, it passed restrictive immigration legislation that mirrored the prevailing social biases of the time.

Establishing a Capital and National Bodies

Initially, the Parliament convened in Melbourne. It wasn't until 1927 that Canberra was established as the official seat of government. In these early years, key national institutions such as a federal public service, a national statistics office, and various regulatory agencies were developed and expanded.