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There is no simple answer to that question.
Prior to 1901, Australia was made up of six self-governing colonies; New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania. These colonies were ultimately under British rule from the time the First Fleet landed, in 1788, until 1901. Numerous politicians and influential Australians through the years had pushed for federation of the colonies, and self-government. On 22 January 1899, leaders of the six Australian colonies met in Melbourne to discuss a federation bill.
After not being accepted by the states the first time, the amended Commonwealth Constitution was given Royal Assent on 9 July 1900. On 1 January 1901, federation of the colonies was achieved and the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed by Australia's first Governor-General, John Hope, at Centennial Park in Sydney. Australia's first Prime Minister was Edmund Barton, who was Prime Minister from January 1901 to September 1903. This gave Australia the right to govern itself.
Although the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia came into effect at Federation, this did not mean that Australia was now independent of Britain. When the UK approved colonial federation, it simply meant that the six self-governing states of Australia allocated some functions to a federal authority. Australia gained the status of a Dominion, which meant it remained a self-governing colony within the British Empire, with the Head of State being the British monarch. The British government appointed Australia's Governor-General and State Governors, who answered to the British government.
All Dominions within the British Empire were declared "equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations" at the Imperial Conference of 1926. The Statute of Westminster 1931 ratified the discussions of the Imperial Conference. This meant that Australia and other Dominions such as South Africa, New Zealand and Canada could now conduct treaties and agreements with foreign powers, and manage their own military strategies. No longer were the Australian Governor-General, Parliament and individual governors answerable to the UK. The British monarch could only act on the advice of the Australian Government, and the Governor-General was no longer appointed by and answerable to the British monarch.
The defeat of the large British garrison at Singapore in January 1942 came as a very unwelcome shock to the Australian government. It exposed the weakness of Britain and led Australia to seek much closer ties with the US and it was felt that for this the country needed full independence; hence the date for activating the 1931 Statute of Westminster. Australian Parliament formally adopted the Statute of Westminster 1931 under the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942, on 9 October 1942.
Australia reached the next stage of independence on 3 March 1986, when the Australia Acts came into effect. The Australia Acts declared that Australia had the status of a Sovereign, Independent and Federal Nation. The nation still retains Elizabeth II as head of state, but her position as Australia's head of state is a completely separate position from her position as the head of state of any other country, including the UK. What the Australia Act effectively did was remove the ability of the British Government to make laws for Australia and removed the last legal link with the UK by abolishing the right of appeal to the judicial committee of the Privy Council. Also it was not until 1988 that the last state, Queensland, removed this from their statutes as well.
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Is Australia a colony or independent?
Australia is completely independent. Although Australia is a commonwealth country, and was originally colonised by England, it is completely independent now, and has been since Match 1986, when the Australia Acts came into effect.
How did Victoria Australia get its name?
When the Port Phillip district of New South Wales was separated as a separate colony in 1851 it was called after Queen Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom, whose colony it was.
Where were hares introduce to Australia?
The European hare was originally introduced to Australia in the 1830s when it was brought to the New South Wales colony as a game animal.Many more were introduced to Victoria in the 1860s. Like the rabbit, it quickly spread to become a major pest.
What was the last colony to be established in Australia?
The South Australian colony was the last to be established. This was done in 1836. Whilst Melbourne was also established in 1836, it was not the first settlement in the colony of Victoria.
Why did Australia become an English colony?
because the English founded it and were the first overseas colony to live here.
When did the colony of New Hampshire become independent?
They become independent in 1679
When was Victoria established?
Victoria, as an independent colony, separated from New South Wales in August 1851, just before it had its first major gold strike, at Ballarat. The very first settlement (which failed within less than a year) was established at Sorrento, on the Mornington Peninsula, in 1803. The mre successful settlement which later went on to become Melbourne was established by John Batman in 1836.
What was the major impact of the discovery of gold in Victoria?
The major impact of the discovery of gold in Victoria was that it gave Victoria the wealth to be able to become independent from New South Wales. Victoria separated from New South Wales in 1851, the start of the goldrush, becoming its own self-governing colony. Anpother major impact was the miners' rebellion known as the Eureka Stockade. This was the beginning of democracy in Australia.
When did australia become a colony?
1788
Is Australia a colony or independent?
Australia is completely independent. Although Australia is a commonwealth country, and was originally colonised by England, it is completely independent now, and has been since Match 1986, when the Australia Acts came into effect.
How did Victoria Australia get its name?
When the Port Phillip district of New South Wales was separated as a separate colony in 1851 it was called after Queen Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom, whose colony it was.
Province of Victoria?
The city of Victoria is the capital of the Canadian province of British Columbia. There is no province called Victoria in Canada, Australia, or any other former colony.
Where were hares introduce to Australia?
The European hare was originally introduced to Australia in the 1830s when it was brought to the New South Wales colony as a game animal.Many more were introduced to Victoria in the 1860s. Like the rabbit, it quickly spread to become a major pest.
What was the last colony to be established in Australia?
The South Australian colony was the last to be established. This was done in 1836. Whilst Melbourne was also established in 1836, it was not the first settlement in the colony of Victoria.
Why did Australia become an English colony?
because the English founded it and were the first overseas colony to live here.
Who separated Victoria and new south Wales?
Victoria and New South Wales were formally separated by Queen Victoria in 1851. By her written edict, the southern settlement was permitted to become a separate colony with its own government. The colony was named Victoria in her honour.
What is the only state in Australia that did not start as convict colony?
South Australia, Western Australia (Swan River) and Victoria (Port Phillip) all did not start as convict colonies.While South Australia always remained convict-free, the settlers of the Swan River colony asked for convicts because they claimed there was the need for convict labour. The first convicts arrived about 15 years after the colony was founded.The Port Phillip District (Victoria) was established by free settlers who were joined by ex-convicts from Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales.
