What is Federation? Why did Australia’s colonies join together? Find out about the Federation of Australia in 1901.
Activities
- Choose a key person in the path to Federation (such as Sir Henry Parkes, Edmund Barton, George Reid) and present their contribution to Federation to your class in a creative way. You could do this with a poem, song, cartoon strip or a play.
- Sir Henry Parkes is often called the 'Father of Federation'. Write a persuasive speech to convince your teacher why you agree or disagree with this description.
Australian Curriculum links
Year 6 History
Key figures, events and ideas that led to Australia’s Federation and Constitution (ACHASSK134)
Year 5 Civics and Citizenship
How people with shared beliefs and values work together to achieve a civic goal (ACHASSK118)
Year 6 Civics and Citizenship
The shared values of Australian citizenship and the formal rights and responsibilities of Australian citizens (ACHASSK147)
Related resources
Australian Federation
06:05
Australian federation as told by historian David Hunt.
Creating a Nation
22:01
Federation of the states and creation of the Commonwealth of Australia.
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