Australia's Federation: six colonies became states on 1 January 1901

Background

Australia became a nation on 1 January 1901, when six British colonies, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, became the states of Australia. The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 was passed by the British Parliament and signed by Queen Victoria in July 1900. Edmund Barton was the first Prime Minister. The first federal Parliament was opened in Melbourne on 9 May 1901. Section 125 of the Constitution required the national capital to be in New South Wales, at least 100 miles from Sydney, and the Australian Capital Territory was created in 1911 for it.