Prior to 1901 Australia was a group of individual colonies, which came together after federation as the Commonwealth of Australia.
Former Cobram resident Peter Sutton said this represented evolution, as a colonial outpost of the British Empire became a new independent and self-governing nation.
“Federation could have looked very different to the nation that exists today,” he said.
“In the initial stages, Fiji and New Zealand were also originally intended to join, but chose not to.”
A conference of Victorian and NSW delegates was held in Corowa on July 31 and August 1, 1893 to discuss and consider the practicalities of federation.
From here came the Corowa Plan, which was adopted by premiers and led to the 1897 and 1898 conventions.
“Referendums followed this and the Constitution was drafted — there is a Federation Museum at Corowa which explores this history,” Mr Sutton said.
The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1900, receiving Royal Assent by Queen Victoria on July 9.
Mr Sutton said the new Commonwealth was officially proclaimed on January 1, 1901 in Sydney’s Centennial Park, and the first federal elections were held shortly after.
“It had been decided to establish a new capital city, Canberra, to avoid the Sydney and Melbourne rivalry,” he said.
“The new city was to be located halfway between Melbourne and Sydney, and Melbourne served as the interim capital until 1927.”
The Commonwealth Parliament officially sat in the Victorian Parliament during this period, and the Victorian legislature temporarily relocated to Melbourne’s Exhibition Buildings.
“Due to the size and number of people, attending, our first parliament was officially opened at the Exhibition Buildings on May 9, 190 ... it was attended by 12,000 people,” Mr Sutton said.
“The celebrations were marked over two weeks, and this achievement was enthusiastically embraced by Australians.
“It’s important symbolically and historically, as it was the time we came together as one people.
“There were some exceptions to this, as Australia’s First Nations were excluded ... this remained until 1967 when it was repealed by a referendum supported by 90 per cent of Australians.
“The Constitution that was approved then, still applies today, though it has been subsequently amended.”
Mr Sutton said the present date of Australia Day, January 26, commemorated the establishment of the penal colony of NSW.
“Arguably, I believe May 9 would be a better date because this day represents self-government, the first time our new national parliament sat and our first Commonwealth Government,” he said.
“We have come far as a nation in that 125 years, and Saturday, May 9 is an important anniversary.”
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