Queen Victoria signed the Australian Constitution Act in July 1900, so why weren't we officially Australia then?
Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, 1900: Original Public Record Copy (1900).
Parliament House Art Collection, Art Services Parliament House
Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, 1900: Original Public Record Copy (1900).
Parliament House Art Collection, Art Services Parliament House
Description
This image shows the front page of the original public record copy of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900.
Permission for publication must be sought from Parliament House Art Collection. Contact DPS Art Services, phone: 02 62775034 or 02 62775123
You are right! Queen Victoria did sign the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK) into law on 9 July 1900. However, covering clause 3 of the Australian Constitution says that the Act would commence on a date to be decided by Proclamation by the Queen. This means that although the law creating Australia had been signed, it wouldn’t actually take effect until the Queen officially announced the start date in a Proclamation. The Proclamation stated the Act would come into effect on 1 January 1901.
Sometimes, a new law will create a big change – like the creation of a new country! Preparations need to be made, new institutions set up and people told about the change. To ensure there is time to make all the changes, some laws have a future start date written into them. This date is either specified (the Commencement Date) or the date is decided later. The Governor-General still makes Proclamations about the commencement of some laws after they are given the Royal Assent.