Nationhood
Corowa Conference
31 July 1893
Supporters of Federation meet in Corowa to plan the next steps towards nationhood.
The Corowa Conference was a meeting to discuss support for Federation – uniting to become one nation. It took place on the border between New South Wales and Victorian in the town of Corowa in 1893.
The 1890 National Australasian Convention in Melbourne had been attended by delegates of the colonies. However, the Corowa Conference was organised by community groups including the Australian Federation League in New South Wales and the Australian Natives Association in Victoria. They discussed and planned strategies for writing the Australian Constitution, the structure of the new government and how to achieve Federation. The Conference resulted in the decision to advocate for:
- each colonial parliament to make a law to allow the direct election of delegates to a new National Convention who would decide on a draft Constitution
- a referendum be held asking the people to approve the draft constitution.
The Corowa Conference was a significant step in Australia’s path to nationhood. After the Conference more meetings were held – a premiers’ conference in 1895 and another National Convention in 1897–1898. Referendums were held in the colonies in 1899 and 1900. This resulted in the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.
Bendigo Advertiser, 18 August 1893
National Library of Australia
Bendigo Advertiser, 18 August 1893
National Library of Australia
Description
This article was published in the Bendigo Advertiser on 18 August 1893. It describes the Corowa Conference where supporters of Federation met to plan the next steps towards nationhood, which was eventually achieved on 1 January 1901.
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