Australia Federates: Commonwealth Born in 1901
Six separate British colonies federated into the Commonwealth of Australia after a decade of conventions, referendums, and arguments about tariffs. Western Australia almost refused — their referendum barely passed at 60% after direct pressure from London. Edmund Barton became the first PM. The new constitution gave the federal government power to make laws about "the people of any race," except Aboriginal Australians, who were explicitly excluded from the national census until 1967. The new nation celebrated. Its original inhabitants weren't counted.
January 1, 1901
125 years ago
Key Figures & Places
New South Wales
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Queensland
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Victoria (Australia)
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South Australia
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Tasmania
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Western Australia
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Australian Federation
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Australia
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Edmund Barton
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Prime Minister of Australia
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Federation of Australia
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New South Wales
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Queensland
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Victoria
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South Australia
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Tasmania
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Western Australia
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Federation of Australia
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Australia
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Edmund Barton
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Prime Minister of Australia
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Commonwealth of Nations
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Australian dollar
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Pound sterling
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Sydney
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British
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What Else Happened on January 1
Roman consuls began their year in office on January 1 for the first time in 153 BC. Before that, they'd taken power on March 15. The change happened because Rom…
The Julian calendar takes effect as the civil calendar of the Roman Empire, establishing January 1 as the new date of the new year. That was -45.
The Roman Senate posthumously deifies Julius Caesar. That was -42.
The Roman legions in Germania Superior refuse to swear loyalty to Galba. They rebel and proclaim Vitellius as emperor. That was 69.
January 1, 153. Roman consuls begin their year in office.
The Senate chooses Pertinax against his will to succeed Commodus as Roman emperor. That was 193.
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