History & Heritage
Federation in 1901
Federation is when the six separate British colonies in Australia joined together to form one nation. This happened on 1 January 1901, when the Commonwealth of Australia came into being and the Constitution took effect.
Key facts
- ◆ Australia became a federation on 1 January 1901.
- ◆ The six colonies became the six states of the new Commonwealth.
- ◆ The first federal Parliament met in Melbourne in 1901.
- ◆ Edmund Barton became Australia's first Prime Minister.