Western Australia initially did not wish to federate because the state was guided by Premier and former explorer John Forrest, who held back on the agreement because he wanted to ensure the economic security of the state, given its distance from the more highly populated eastern states. Forrest believed that Western Australia's very distance from the rest of Australia's states would mean it would miss out on many of the trade benefits the eastern states would enjoy.
Western Australia itself was divided over whether or not it should federate, as the people of Albany wanted to be included as part of South Australia, rather than aligning themselves with Perth and Fremantle. Despite this, Forrest's 31 July 1900 referendum on whether the Western Australians wished to join the rest of the commonwealth was resoundly accepted throughout the state.
Western Australia initially did not wish to federate because the state was guided by Premier and former explorer John Forrest, who held back on the agreement because he wanted to ensure the economic security of the state, given its distance from the more highly populated eastern states. Forrest believed that Western Australia's very distance from the rest of Australia's states would mean it would miss out on many of the trade benefits the eastern states would enjoy.
Western Australia itself was divided over whether or not it should federate, as the people of Albany wanted to be included as part of South Australia, rather than aligning themselves with Perth and Fremantle. Despite this, Forrest's 31 July 1900 referendum on whether the Western Australians wished to join the rest of the commonwealth was resoundly accepted throughout the state.
Western Australia was initially reluctant to federate with the other states of Australia. WA held back from agreeing to join the federation, as Premier and former explorer John Forrest wanted to ensure the economic security of the state, given its distance from the more highly populated eastern states. Being so isolated, he believed that Western Australia's interests would be compromised.Western Australia itself was divided over the decision to join, as the people of Albany pushed to be included as part of South Australia, rather than aligning themselves with Perth and Fremantle. Despite this, Forrest's 31 July 1900 referendum on whether the Western Australians wished to join the rest of the commonwealth was largely accepted throughout the state.
Western Australia held a referendum on whether to join the rest of the country in Federation occurred on 31 July 1900.
The colonies that were a part of Australia before federation were: Western Australia Queensland South Australia New South Wales Victoria Tasmania
Western australia
Initially, Western Australia voted against Federation. Premier and former explorer John Forrest held back on the agreement because he wanted to ensure the economic security of the state, given its distance from the more highly populated eastern states. Forrest believed that Western Australia's very distance from the rest of Australia's states would mean it would miss out on many of the trade benefits the eastern states would enjoy. The people of Western Australia were divided over whether or not they should join the federation, as the town of Albany, on the southern coast, wanted to be included as part of South Australia, rather than aligning themselves with Perth and Fremantle. Despite this, Forrest's 31 July 1900 referendum on whether the Western Australians wished to join the rest of the commonwealth was resoundly accepted throughout the state.
When the Commonwealth of Australia was founded after Australia began to gain it's independence in 1901, the colony was already called Western Australia. When it was adopted by the federation in 1901, the name was kept and it was made a state. It was most likely called Western Australia because it is on the western side of Australia.
Western Australia finally voted to join the federation in the referendum on 31 July 1900.
Western Australia wasn't the last to join the federation as all the colonies federated at the same time. However, Western Australia was certainly the last to agree to Federation. Western Australia held back from agreeing to join the federation, as Premier and former explorer John Forrest wanted to ensure the economic security of the state, given its distance from the more highly populated eastern states. Western Australia itself was divided over the decision to join, as the people of Albany pushed to be included as part of South Australia, rather than aligning themselves with Perth and Fremantle. Despite this, Forrest's 31 July 1900 referendum on whether the Western Australians wished to join the rest of the commonwealth was resoundly accepted throughout the state.
The Commonwealth of Australia is the official name. Commonly simply called Australia. Before federation there were six separate colonies with their own names (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.) Australia was a common, but unofficial name for the colonies together.
The last colony to agree to join the Australian Federation was Western Australia, because they felt cut off from Australia as their main city, Perth, was one of the furthest away from any other of the big cities.
Australia's federation occurred on 1 January 1901.Prior to 1901, Australia was made up of six self-governing colonies; New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania. 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.
There are no longer colonies of Australia. Prior to federation of the colonies in 1901, the colonies of Australia were New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. These are now known as states.