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 as told by historian David Hunt.
Federation of the states and creation of the Commonwealth of Australia.
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