Why does Australia have 6 separate states?

Thanks for your question.

Australia has separate states because 6 British colonies became the 6 states of a new democratic nation – Australia – through the process of Federation. When the colonies joined together to form Australia in 1901, they kept their borders and governments, becoming the 6 states.

Australians celebrated Federation on 1 January 1901. But the history of this continent dates back much further. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived on the Australian continent for over 60,000 years. From the late 1700s, the British founded 6 different colonies – each with their own parliaments, tax laws and services – but all still under the law-making power of the British Parliament. 

In the 1880s and 1890s, many people began to identify themselves as Australians. They thought that the colonies might be stronger and more efficient if they worked together, although the colonies still wanted control over some of their own laws and services. Representatives from each colony met to create a set of rules which became the Australian Constitution. A federal system was created, where law-making power is shared between the national and state parliaments. Between June 1899 and July 1900, the colonists voted in referendums to approve the new Constitution. Although groups such as women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were mostly excluded, it was the first time in history that a group of people voted to create a new nation.

In July 1900, the British Parliament passed a law allowing the colonies to unite. Australia became a representative democracy, meaning Australians elect members of parliament to make laws and decisions on their behalf.