What major news happened in Australia in 1919?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

* Federation was a major event. 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. Australia's first Governor-General, John Hope, made the proclamation at Centennial Park in Sydney. Australia's first Prime Minister was Edmund Barton. The first Australian Federal Parliament, held in the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne which was the only building large enough to house the 14,000 guests, was opened by the Duke of Cornwall and York, later King George V, on 9 May 1901. * The Australian shearers' strike was another major event. During the 19th century, shearers in Australia endured meagre wages and poor working conditions. This led to the formation of the Australian Shearers' Union which, by 1890, had tens of thousands of members. Early in 1891, Manager Charles Fairbain of Logan Downs Station near Clermont, Queensland, required that shearers sign the Pastoralists Association contract of free labour before commencing work. This was an attempt to reduce union influence.

On 5 January 1891 the shearers refused to work unless the station agreed to their union's terms. This marked the beginning of many months of union shearers around Australia downing their tools and going on strike. Tensions escalated as striking shearers formed armed camps outside of towns, and mounted troopers protected non-union labour and arrested strike leaders. Shearers retaliated by burning woolsheds and crops, and committing other acts of sabotage and harassment. By May of 1891, the violent suppression of the strike action forced shearers to give in. The strike, however, highlighted the need for a political party to represent the rights of the union workers; thus was ultimately born the Australian Labor Party. * In 1895, Queen Victoria gave Royal assent to the Bill allowing South Australian women the right to vote. Women in South Australia gained the right to vote in 1894, and voted for the first time in the election of 1896. It is generally recognised that this right occurred with the passing of a Bill on 18 December 1894. However, a letter from the Attorney-General advising Governor Kintore that Royal Assent would be required to enact the Bill, is dated 21 December 1894. The Bill was enacted when Queen Victoria gave Royal Assent on 2 February 1895. South Australia was the first colony in Australia and only the fourth place in the world where women gained the vote. * In 1895, Banjo Paterson's 'Waltzing Matilda' was first sung in public. The lyrics were written in 1895, and based on the story of a man named Samuel "Frenchy" Hoffmeister. In September 1894, on the Dagworth sheep station north of Winton, some shearers were in a strike that turned violent. The strikers fired off their rifles and pistols in the air and then set fire to the woolshed at the Dagworth Homestead, killing over a hundred sheep. The owner of Dagworth Homestead and three policemen pursued Hoffmeister who, rather than be captured, shot and killed himself at a billabong.

The poem was set to a catchy tune which a friend of Paterson's had heard at the Warrnambool races. It was first performed on 6 April 1895 at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton, Queensland. The occasion was a banquet for the Premier of Queensland. * Of significance to the Aborigines is the fact that Aboriginal tracker Jandamurra, who led the rebellion to defend his land from white man, was killed in 1897. His rebellion lasted several years as the men fought against the white men encroaching on Bunaba land in the Kimberley region. The police recruited an excellent Aboriginal tracker from the Pilbara. This tracker tracked down Jandamurra, killing him at Tunnel Creek on 1 April 1897. Other significant events: 1890 - Electric trams start running in Sydney, the population of Australia passes 3,000,000.

1891 - A draft constitution for Australia is passed to the Colonies, the new Australian Navy gets its first 7 ships

1892 - Disastrous floods on the Hunter River, construction of Fremantle Harbour begins, Australia's financial crisis worsens, Jack Howe shears a record 321 sheep in one day,.

1893 - First public telephones installed, first hydroelectric power plant from artesian water, Kalgoorlie gold rush

1894 - Sir Robert Menzies was born, the novel "Seven Little Australians" was published, electric lighting replaces gas in Melbourne, major rail disaster at Redfern.

1895 - "The Man From Snowy River" was published, first man sets foot on Antarctica 1896 - Anti-Chinese legislation amended to restrict immigration of all non-whites, first motion picture shown in Brisbane, first petrol driven car imported, Sir Henry Parkes dies, Australia's only competitor in the first modern Olympics wins two gold medals 1897 - Compensation for work injuries introduced, Victorian Football League formed, Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith born, the horseless carriage is locally produced, St. Patrick's Cathedral opens in Melbourne

1898 - Melbourne connected to sewerage system, gold mining brings prosperity to WA, a dictionary of Australian words is published.

1899 - Phonographs arrive in Australia, Perth Mint opens, first wireless message sent, Australians go to the Boer War.

1900 - Women's suffrage gathers momentum, ALP formed, Nellie Melba tours Europe, Tasmanian whaling industry ends, the search for national capital, Bubonic Plague hits Sydney, Commonwealth of Australia created, Boer War veterans return to heroes welcome.

1901 - Federal Labour Party formed, Australian parliament opens in Melbourne 1902 - Albert Namatjira born, Breaker Morant is executed, Australian women get the vote

Answer 3

Perhaps the most important event in Australia in 1900 was the passage of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act on July 9. It established the Commonwealth of Australia.