Federation research guide
On 1 January 1901, the six existing self-governing British colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, came together in union to create the Commonwealth of Australia. This was what was known as Federation and was the culmination of a decades-long push by various individuals and associations.
The Library holds a wide selection of material relating to this process.
This guide aims to introduce researchers to key collections and items held by the Library, as well as advise of where related material may be found.

Julian Ashton & Howard Ashton & Otto Von Drehnen, (1901), [An invitation to meet Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York in celebration of the opening of the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135825982
Julian Ashton & Howard Ashton & Otto Von Drehnen, (1901), [An invitation to meet Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York in celebration of the opening of the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135825982
What you can find in the Library
- Printed material: biographies, histories and general works, government publications, e.g. parliamentary papers of the UK, the colonies and Australia
- Manuscripts: papers of ministers and individuals involved in the Federation movement
- Pictures: portraits, photographs, political cartoons
- Ephemera: Federation advertising, electoral material, invitations, handouts and flyers
- Music
- Newspapers: in print and online
- Online resources
Catalogue search tips
Use the Catalogue standard search to find titles, authors or subjects.
- If you get too many results, use the options under 'Limit your search' on the right of the results page to display only the items you're interested in.
- To see what you can view from home, use the link to 'NLA digital material' on the right of the results page.
- If you need to widen your search, click on the subject headings in an item's Catalogue record to find other material related to that subject.
Although you can't browse the Library's shelves in person, you can use the Catalogue to browse by title, author, subject or Call number, using the drop-down list under "All Fields".
Some examples of relevant subject headings are:
- Australia--Centennial celebrations, etc
- Australia--Constitutional history--Sources
- Australia--History--1891-1901
- Australia--Politics and government--1891-1901
- Australian Natives Association
- Constitutional conventions--Australia
- Federal government--Australia
- Federation--Australia
In addition to browsing you can use different search terms alone or combined to identify a wide variety or location-specific items. The following are some examples that can be used:
- constitutional conventions
- Federal Council of Australasia
- federation Australia
- federation colonies
- Edmund Barton

[Celebrations - Federation 1901 : programs and invitations ephemera material collected by the National Library of Australia] nla.gov.au/nla.obj-54697230
[Celebrations - Federation 1901 : programs and invitations ephemera material collected by the National Library of Australia] nla.gov.au/nla.obj-54697230

Irving, Helen Dorothy, The Centenary companion to Australian federation, 1999, nla.cat-vn1562710
Our related guides
- Government, politics and elections research guide
- Biography
- British parliamentary publications and information
- Government gazettes
- GovPubs: the Australian Government Publications Guide
- Newspapers
Our collections
- Federation of Australia
An overview of our key collections relating to Federation
If you are a registered reader you can request items to read and photocopy in our reading rooms.
Registered readers can also search selected subscription databases via our eResources.
If you can't visit the Library, you can use Copies Direct to request copies and have them sent to you via mail or email. Please note there may be copyright restrictions when using this service.
You can also search Trove to find a library closer to you which has the item in their collection.
If there is no library near you with the item, you may be able to arrange an interlibrary loan through your local public or institutional library. Please ask staff at your local library for assistance with this.
Interesting fact
Initially it was considered that New Zealand should join the federated Australian colonies.

J. Kennedy Brown, (1897), Federation! : should New Zealand federate with the Australian colonies? : to which the answer is an emphatic yes!, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52767351
J. Kennedy Brown, (1897), Federation! : should New Zealand federate with the Australian colonies? : to which the answer is an emphatic yes!, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52767351
Related website
For peace, order and good government is an online exhibition from the Parliament of Australia relating to the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia.
A badge worn by supporters of the Australian Commonwealth. Similar in nature, if not the same, as that discussed in the newspaper article 'A Federal badge' in 1898.

[Badge inscribed: Australia's Commonwealth, 1899] nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135774500
In this guide

Australasian Federation Conference, Official record of the proceedings and debates of the Australasian Federation Conference, 1890, held in the Parliament House, Melbourne, 1890, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-226134849

Australian Commonwealth (1901, January 2). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 5, nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196062003

New South Wales. Government Printing Office. (1897). Australian colonies and New Zealand, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231319653

Wendy McDougall, Federation Parade walks proud along Sanger St. Corowa, 28th January 2001, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-146228696

Australian Federation Referendum Results 1899, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136434299

Badge of the Australia Federation League of New South Wales, ca. 1900, between 1898 and 1901, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-143365932

Tom Roberts, Sketch for opening of Federal Parliament, 1901, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-134312660

Royal Visits - 1901 - Duke & Duchess of Cornwall and York : programs and invitations ephemera material collected by the National Library of Australia, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-54753475

Walter Burley Griffin, Canberra Federal Capital of Australia preliminary plan, 1914, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-230041959