Edmund Barton | National Museum of Australia Prime Minister from 1 January 1901 to 24 September 1903 Edmund Barton. Photo: National Library of Australia, nla.pic-an22942278. Edmund Barton became Australia's first Prime Minister on New Year's Day 1901 at a huge public ceremony in Centennial Park in Sydney. Barton was certainly qualified for his new job. He'd been a member of the New South Wales parliament for 20 years, and had served terms as Speaker of its Legislative Assembly, Attorney-General and Leader of the Opposition. Barton had worked on Federation for 10 years, and became Australia's first Prime Minister because the supporters of Federation trusted him. Beginnings Edmund Barton was born in Glebe, New South Wales, on 18 January 1849. He was one of nine children of William Barton and Mary Louise Whydah, English immigrants who arrived in Australia in 1824. William was a secretary and accountant for an agricultural company, and later became a stockbroker. Mary ran a school for girls.

Barton attended Fort Street school from 1856 to 1858 and then went to Sydney Grammar. He went on to the University of Sydney, from which he graduated with a BA in 1868 and an MA in 1870. He became a barrister in 1871 and set up a successful legal practice. He joined the Sydney Mechanics Institute to learn the art of debating. He married Jane (Jeanie) Mason Ross in 1877, and they had six children. Barton entered New South Wales colonial politics in 1877, standing unsuccessfully as a candidate for the University seat in the Legislative Assembly, but winning the seat in 1879. He switched to the Wellington seat in 1880, then in 1882 to East Sydney, which he held until 1887. He was an appointed member of the Legislative Council from 1887 to 1891, then regained East Sydney in 1891, held it until 1894 and then lost it again.

He became a member of the Legislative Council again from 1897 to 1898, and was then re-elected to the Legislative Assembly for Hastings-Macleay, which he represented from 1897 to 1899. He held various positions while a member of colonial parliament, including Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 1883-87, Attorney-General 1889 and 1891-93, and Leader of the Opposition from 1898 to 1899. Barton attended the Federal Convention in Sydney in March 1891 as a delegate for New South Wales and was a member of the constitution committee. The idea for a convention had sprung from a speech given at Tenterfield, New South Wales, on 24 October 1889 by Henry Parkes, the 'Father of Federation'. Parkes had called for a strong central federal parliament. The premiers' meeting in Melbourne in February 1890 discussed Parkes' proposals, and agreed to call a Federal Convention the following year.

At the first Federal Convention in March 1891, 46 delegates from all six Australian colonies and New Zealand met in Sydney and produced a draft Constitution Bill. When Parkes lost government in October 1891 he asked Barton, by now a convinced federalist, to take over the leadership of the federal movement. Barton worked tirelessly to promote Federation through the formation of local branches of the Australasian Federal Leagues. From 1893 to 1897 he addressed 300 meetings in New South Wales. In January 1895 the premiers met in Hobart. They agreed that enabling Acts should be passed in colonial parliaments to allow for popular election of delegates, and for a referendum to approve a draft Constitution. Barton topped the New South Wales poll to elect delegates to the second Federal Convention, gaining 75 per cent of the total votes. When the second Federal Convention began meeting in March 1897, it appointed Barton 'Leader of the Convention', chairman of the constitutional committee and chairman of the drafting sub-committee. Barton and his supporters conducted a vigorous pro-Federation campaign preceding the June 1898 referendum on Federation.

The Constitution was accepted by the required majority in South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, but not in New South Wales. At the New South Wales election in July 1898, dominated by the Federation issue, Barton won the seat of Hastings-Macleay and thus returned to the Legislative Assembly. In September 1898 he replaced the anti-federationist, William Lyne, as opposition leader. The Premier, George Houston Reid, and Barton worked together to promote the federal cause to the New South Wales electorate. From April to July 1899, a second referendum on Federation was conducted in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, each of which accepted an amended Constitution by a larger majority than in June 1898. On 2 September that year, Queensland, voting for the first time, approved the Bill. Barton led the Australian delegation to London in early 1900 to negotiate amendments to the Constitution Bill which the UK government wanted, and to oversee the safe passage of the Bill through the UK parliament. On 9 July 1900 Queen Victoria gave Royal Assent to the Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia.

On 18 July 1900 Lord Hopetoun, former governor of Victoria (1889-95), was named as inaugural Governor-General of Australia. Lord Hopetoun arrived in Australia on 15 December 1900, and on 19 December he commissioned New South Wales Premier, William Lyne, to form a federal ministry. His reason for choosing Lyne was his position as the Premier of a 'senior' colony. Lyne, however, was a strong opponent of Federation and no leading federationist would join a government he led. Lyne then advised Hopetoun to commission Barton, who formed the ministry. The ministry (including Lyne in the Home Affairs portfolio) was announced on 30 December. Prime Minister Edmund Barton Governor-General Lord Hopetoun commissioned Barton as Australia's first Prime Minister on 31 December 1900. On Tuesday 1 January 1901 Lord Hopetoun proclaimed the Commonwealth of Australia as a federation of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia (these former colonies are now called states), and swore in Barton's ministry at a huge public Commonwealth inauguration ceremony in Centennial Park, Sydney.

A choir of 10,000 sang Advance, Australia Fair, which in 1977 became our national anthem. Barton gained electoral confirmation of his appointment as Prime Minister when his Protectionists won more seats than either of the other main groupings, Free Traders and Labor, at the first general election on 29-30 March 1901. Barton won the seat of Hunter, New South Wales, and became Minister for External Affairs as well as Prime Minister. On 9 May 1901 the Duke of York (later King George V) opened the Commonwealth parliament in the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, which became the interim capital. (Federal parliament subsequently met in Victoria's state parliament house.) FW Holder, former Premier of South Australia, was elected the first Speaker of the House of Representatives. Following a competition for the design of a national flag, for which 32,823 entries were submitted, a flag including elements from the five winning entries was chosen. It was flown officially as the Australian flag for the first time, over the Exhibition Building in Melbourne, on 3 September 1901.

The first budget was presented to federal parliament by the Treasurer, George Turner, on 8 October 1901. Among the first Acts of Barton's government in 1901 was legislation to restrict immigration, thus instituting the 'White Australia Policy'. The Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 established uniform federal franchise. This gave the vote to adult British subjects resident in Australia for at least six months, but excluded Aborigines, Africans and Asians. The Judiciary Act of Australia became law on 25 August 1903, providing for the establishment of the High Court of Australia. Barton remained Prime Minister for two years and ten months. Beyond politics Barton resigned as Prime Minister on 24 September 1903 to become a foundation member of the newly established High Court of Australia, becoming one of two judges serving with the inaugural Chief Justice SW Griffith. Barton served on the High Court for over 16 years, until his death on 7 January 1920 at Medlow Bath, New South Wales. Legislation The legislative task of the first parliament was to establish a Commonwealth administration.

Parliament passed 59 of the 84 bills introduced by the Barton government, including 21 money (appropriation and supply) bills. Other important legislation included: The Acts Interpretation Act 1901 which was the first bill setting out the standards and conventions for drafting subsequent bills. The Audit Act 1901 provided for supervision of government spending and reporting to parliament. The Customs Act 1901 and Excise Act 1901 which were revenue raising Acts. The Judiciary Act 1903 to set up the High Court. The Defence Act 1903 to establish control of military and naval forces. The Immigration Restriction Act 1901 to implement the 'White Australia Policy'. Breadcrumb Links: Edmund Barton - Australia's PMs - Australia's Prime Ministers AUSTRALIA'S PRIME MINISTERS Home > Australia's PMs > Edmund Barton Edmund Barton Federation was Edmund Barton's 'one great thing'. One of the key architects of Australia's Constitution, Barton became the new nation's first Prime Minister at a grand ceremony in Centennial Park, Sydney, on 1 January 1901.

Crowds greet the new Prime Minister Edmund Barton (third from left) and Governor-General Lord Hopetoun (third from right), as they leave the rotunda in Sydney's Centennial Park, where the Commonwealth of Australia was born on 1 January 1901. Keenan, JJ, Inaugural Celebrations of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1904 Admired for his intellect and calm temper, Barton's glowing eyes revealed a keen sense of humour, while his ample girth was evidence of a love of good food, fine wine and stimulating conversation. With a rich and engrossing voice, he commanded authority wherever he spoke. In 1903 Barton resigned to become one of the three judges who founded Australia's High Court. Inauguration of the Commonwealth (1901) clip 2 on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online by Elizabeth Taggart-Speers A platform directly outside the pavilion at Centennial Park was specifically constructed for the cameraman to set-up on during the ceremony. From here he could capture the dignitaries as they walked up and down the steps of the pavilion as well as the ceremony itself.

Silent and without intertitles, this clip may have been accompanied by a live voiceover. Teacher’s notes provided by This silent, black-and-white clip shows the ceremony at Centennial Park in Sydney where the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed on 1 January 1901. It shows Governor-General John Adrian Louis Hope, seventh Earl of Hopetoun, being greeted by caretaker Prime Minister Edmund Barton and the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, William Smith. Lord Hopetoun gives an oath of allegiance and oath of office as Governor-General, after which the (soon-to-be) ministers of the first federal government are sworn in. The Governor-General and government ministers are shown signing an oath of allegiance at a table in the centre of the pavilion. Educational value points Prior to 1901 each Australian colony was a completely separate political entity, paying and collecting tariffs on goods that crossed its borders. The inefficiency of this system, a growing unity among colonists and a belief that a national government was needed to deal with issues such as trade, defence and foreign policy, immigration, currency, weights and measures and the administration of the Northern Territory pushed the colonies towards federating.

A series of Federation conferences and state referendums was held in the 1890s to draft a constitution for the Commonwealth of Australia. Federation was made legally possible through a British Act of Parliament known as the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act that was passed by the British Parliament and given Royal Assent by Queen Victoria on 9 July 1900. The Act enabled the six Australian colonies, then still subject to British law, to form their own Commonwealth Government as set out by the Constitution. The Constitution detailed the structure and powers of the Commonwealth Government and defined how it and the colonies, which now became states, would share power and responsibility. The new parliament was modelled on the Westminster system and consisted of the Monarch, a Senate and a House of Representatives. The two houses of parliament were to be elected by all adult, native-born or naturalised British subjects who had lived in Australia for at least six months. Since both South Australia and Western Australia had already given women the right to vote, the new Commonwealth Parliament extended the franchise to women in all states in 1902. The same Act specifically disqualified 'Aboriginal natives’ of Australia from voting.

The ceremony to mark the Inauguration of the Commonwealth took place in the Federation Pavilion, an ornate, open-sided temporary structure designed for the occasion by New South Wales Government architect Walter Vernon. The pavilion was made of fibrous plaster and wood by Sydney plasterwork firm Grant and Cocks, which specialised in 'plastic art’ or the modelling of plasterwork, and was dismantled after three years. Support for federation was high and Australians united under the slogan 'one people, one flag, one destiny’. Some 100,000 spectators witnessed the Inauguration of the Commonwealth ceremony, and thousands more lined the route of the Great Inaugural Procession that preceded the ceremony. 'Commonwealth Celebrations’, which ran over eight days and included a state banquet, parades, fireworks, concerts and picnics, were held throughout Australia. Sir Edmund Barton (1849–1920) was Australia’s first prime minister and a passionate advocate of federation. A lawyer, Barton was elected to the NSW Parliament in 1879 and represented NSW at the Federation Conventions.

Barton was part of a delegation sent to London in 1900 to lobby for the passage of the Australian Commonwealth Constitution Bill through the British Parliament, and his legal knowledge was vital in these negotiations. During his term as prime minister much of the machinery of the new Commonwealth Government was put in place. He was knighted in 1902. The Governor-General and the future ministers signed an oath of allegiance to the new Commonwealth using the same pen, inkstand and table as Queen Victoria had used to sign the Australian Commonwealth Constitution Act in England on 9 July 1900. The new nation was created as a constitutional monarchy with the English monarch as Head of State. This footage is believed to be the first moving images of a nation being created. The NSW Government commissioned the Limelight Department, a film production arm of the Salvation Army, to film the Federation events, including the ceremony and preceding procession. It was shown in cinemas across Australia, as well as in Britain and Canada. It was the first Australian film to use multiple cameras, but since cameras of the period were basic and could not tilt or pan, the footage is limited to wide static shots. This clip starts approximately 8 minutes into the documentary.

This clip shows Sydney’s Archbishop, William Smith, welcoming Lord Hopetoun and Prime Minister Edmund Barton, and dignitaries to the swearing in of Australia’s first federal cabinet and for the reading of the Proclamation of the Constitution at Centennial Park, Sydney on 1 January 1901. The clip is silent. There are rows of military personnel in full ceremonial dress. We then see a shot of all officials with partners walking up to a platform in a rotunda where several men are standing around a table where papers are being signed. The official entourage then walk back down the stairs through a line of men in military dress as they salute. Thanks to the generosity of the rights holders, we are able to offer Signing oath of allegiance as a high quality video download. To play the downloadable video, you need QuickTime 7.0 , VLC , or similar. You must read and agree to the following terms and conditions before downloading the clip: australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

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You must read and agree to the following terms and conditions before embedding the clip: australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice. All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions. When you access australianscreen you agree that: You may retrieve materials for information only. You may download materials for your personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes, but you must not publish them elsewhere or redistribute clips in any way. You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue. The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site. All other rights reserved. ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

Copy and paste the following code into your own web page to embed this clip: <object width="480" height="360" data="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="movie" value="" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="opaque" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value='config={"clip":{"url":"","scaling":"fit","autoPlay":false,"autoBuffering":true},"key":"#@ace34faff37a9f06796","plugins":{"content":{"url":"","top":"0","width":"480","height":"28","border":"1px solid #7f9c48","borderRadius":"0","backgroundColor":"#000000","closeButton":true,"html":"Inauguration of the Commonwealth (1901), Signing oath of allegiance"},"controls":{"timeBgColor":"#ffffff","tooltipTextColor":"#ffffff","bufferGradient":"none","sliderGradient":"none","sliderColor":"#838383","duration

Color":"#313131","timeColor":"#7f9c48","buttonColor":"#7f9c48","progressColor":"#515151","backgroundGradient":"none","bufferColor":"#616161","borderRadius":"0px","volumeSliderColor":"#000000","tooltipColor":"#7f9c48","backgroundColor":"#313131","progressGradient":"none","buttonOverColor":"#728B94","volumeSliderGradient":"none","height":"24","opacity":"1.0"}}}' /></object> Federation | australia.gov.au Australia.gov.au Helping you find government information and services Search form The Federation Kiosk, Centennial Park, Sydney at the Proclamation of Federation, 1 January 1901.

Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. It's hard to imagine in contemporary Australia, but prior to Federation each of the Australian colonies was more like its own country with customs houses, railway gauges and even their own military. It was neither natural nor inevitable that Australia would be federated, in fact it wasn't even a very popular idea. Only through the dedication and hard work of a small group of people did the colonies eventually come together to form a nation. Colonial politicians like Alfred Deakin, Henry Parkes and Edmund Barton waged a long campaign to turn the six colonies of 3.7 million people into a country in its own right. The Father of Federation Henry Parkes. Image courtesy of Government Printing Office Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Henry Parkes (1815–1896) is often called the 'Father of Federation' for his role as a long-time agitator for the cause. Parkes was five times the Premier of NSW and one of the most prominent men in colonial politics. In October 1889, in what became known as the 'Tenterfield Address' he called for the colonies to 'unite and create a great national government for all Australia'.

His speech had an enormous effect on the movement toward Federation. After a life at the forefront of the Federation movement Henry Parkes died in 1896 without ever seeing his dream realised. The movement gathers momentum The movement had begun to gather real momentum after Henry Parkes wrote to the other premiers in 1889 and proposed a meeting to devise a Federal constitution. The following year a meeting was held in Melbourne, with a full 'National' convention in Sydney in 1891 at which a complete draft of the Australian Constitution was written and adopted. The first draft of the constitution is usually attributed to Sir Samuel Griffith, written aboard the Lucinda as it cruised down the Hawkesbury in 1891. Others have disputed this however, arguing that Griffith merely rewrote Andrew Inglis Clarke's 1891 draft constitution and, even then, made a mess of it. Whoever wrote it, the result was the same; a fairly dry but functional document which inspired few people to take an interest in it when it was put to a referendum in June 1898 in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia, with only a small minority of eligible voters participating in the vote.

It was a document inspired by a more narrow vision than that which produced the US Bill of Rights. In 1890, speaking at the Australasian Federation Conference, Alfred Deakin proclaimed that 'in this country, we are separated only by imaginary lines ... we are a people one in blood, race, religion and aspiration'. 'Race' was a key factor in the ambition for Federation, with the dream of a 'white nation' uppermost in the minds of the federalists. Critics have pointed out that on Federation, Indigenous people were excluded from voting, as were most women, the poor and people of Chinese or Indian descent. Of those who could vote, very few bothered. Peter Botsman has gone so far as to refer to Federation as a 'great constitutional swindle' and a 'pact with the devil'. The first Referendum In 1898, a referendum was held so that people in the colonies could vote on the constitution. Queensland and Western Australia did not take part, and in New South Wales it did not get approved. The premiers met in 1899 to find ways of meeting the concerns of those three colonies.

Debate over a new national capital When the constitution for the Commonwealth of Australia was being negotiated between the colonies, a point of contention was the location of the national capital, with both Melbourne and Sydney claiming the right to be the capital. A compromise was reached whereby a separate capital city would be created in New South Wales, provided it was no closer than 100 miles (160km) to Sydney. Until such time as the new city was established, it was agreed that Melbourne was to be the temporary capital of Australia, which it was from the time of federation. The decision for the Yass–Canberra option was made in 1908 by the Commonwealth Parliament and shortly afterwards the Commonwealth surveyor, Charles Scrivener, was dispatched to choose a site. Second Referendum and the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia Commonwealth Arch, Park Street, Sydney. Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia. When the amended Constitution was put to a second round of referendums in 1899 there was great public interest, and pro- and anti-Federation organisations formed in all the colonies. This time the referendums were successful.

The Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed on 1 January 1901 in Centennial Park, Sydney by Lord Hopetoun, the first Governor General. By this time the Australian people had embraced the idea and turned out in their thousands for celebrations all over the new nation. This included the opening of 'Federation Arches' in each state, such as the Commonwealth Arch, Park Street, Sydney (pictured left). The colonies became states, and a Federal Parliament was formed according to the Constitution. Edmund Barton became the first Prime Minister of Australia. The Centenary of Federation These original celebrations were echoed one hundred years later with Federation's centenary – it was a year of debate, reflection and celebration. Throughout 2001, Australians everywhere participated in thousands of events, projects and community activities to celebrate the Centenary of Federation: It was an inclusive year of commemorations, reaching out to all people, of all ages, whether in the cities or the bush. Tens of thousands attended the major events and celebrations. In addition, the year touched Australians far and wide by way of extensive media coverage, community level festivities, special activities in schools, and through commemorative publications and memorabilia.

During the twelve-month program, few people would not have been reached in one way or another by the diversity of Centenary projects and celebrations. Tony Eggleton, Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for the Centenary of Federation, Centenary of Federation 2001 - The Year In Review. Peter Tully Wrapped Australian brooch: Gift of the artist, 1982. Image courtesy of the National Gallery of Australia. Federation – Australian Art and Society 1901–2001 The National Gallery of Australia's 'Federation' exhibition, which toured to major cities between December 2000 and July 2002 to mark the Centenary of Federation, was: ... the most comprehensive survey of Australian art since the Bicentennial exhibitions of 1988. It juxtaposes familiar icons of Australian art alongside unusual and little-known works to chart the growth of a distinctively Australian culture. It features landscapes and people, wars and celebrations, natural disasters and favourite pastimes. Federation – Australian Art and Society 1901–2001 The exhibition website provides access to information relating to the works exhibited.

As was the case for the exhibition, works can be viewed within seven themes: Beginnings, The Land, Cities and Suburbs, Boom and Bust, Patriotic Duty, At Ease and Encounters. These themes offer a convenient format for browsing; the website also provides a search tool for exploring the works in a more focused manner. There are detailed records for all of the works in the exhibition with 217 available with images. Useful links Declaration of the Commonwealth Declaration of the Commonwealth Administration Declaration of the Commonwealth We do hereby declare that on and after the first Day of January one thousand nine hundred and one, the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia shall be united in a Federal Commonwealth under the name of the Commonwealth of Australia. Queen Victoria, Proclamation, 17 September 1900. The Commonwealth of Australia was established on 1 January 1901, and the Australian Constitution came into effect on that date. A ceremony in Centennial Park, Sydney, formally marked the beginning of the new nation and established elements of the first Commonwealth government. The Governor-General, Lord Hopetoun, swore to faithfully serve the Queen and the Commonwealth, and proclaimed that he had taken office.

He then, in the Queen's name, appointed the ministers of the first government and swore them in as members of the Executive Council. Ceremony for the declaration of the Commonwealth, Centennial Park, Panoramic view of Centennial Park, Sydney. Celebration for the inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth, 1 January 1901 National Library of Australia A Cabinet of Kings The leader of the government, Edmund Barton , was called Prime Minister by convention only. He gathered around him a ‘cabinet of kings’ which included six former or serving state premiers. In selecting at least one representative from each state, Prime Minister Barton commenced a tradition which continues to this day. Seven departments of state were created at the first meeting of the Executive Council on 1 January 1901. The Barton ministry of 1 January 1901 Image Library, State Library of New South Wales Front, from left: Edmund Barton (NSW), Minister for External Affairs; Lord Hopetoun, Governor-General; Sir William Lyne (NSW), Minister for Home Affairs.

Middle row: Sir George Turner (Vic.), Treasurer; Sir Neil Lewis (Tas.), Minister without portfolio; Sir James Dickson (Qld), Minister for Defence; Alfred Deakin (Vic.), Attorney-General; A.C. Budge, Clerk of the Executive Council; Charles Kingston (SA), Minister for Trade and Customs. Back row: Sir John Forrest (WA), Postmaster-General; Richard O’Connor (NSW), Minister without portfolio Federation | Learning | Parliamentary Education Office (feder,parliament,law,new,australia) Children celebrating federation, Melbourne 1901 National Library of Australia, an13117280-22 The path to federation During the 1890s, each colony sent representatives to special meetings, called conventions, to try to agree about how to form a new federation. Eventually the delegates agreed on the rules for a federal system and a draft constitution. The people of the colonies voted in a series of referendums to accept this new Australian Constitution. It was then passed as a British Act of Parliament in 1900, called the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, which came into effect on 1 January 1901.

The Constitution established a federal Parliament which could make laws on behalf of the new Australian nation (see Australian Constitution ). The colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania united and became states of Australia, known as the Commonwealth of Australia. Western Australia was not a party to the initial agreement but also agreed to join the federation before 1 January 1901. The territories In 1901, the two territories did not exist. The Constitution provided for the establishment of a national capital, to be located in New South Wales but at least 100 miles from Sydney. In 1911, the Australian Government created the Australian Capital Territory for this purpose. In the same year, the Northern Territory was also created. Until then, this area had been part of South Australia. Although part of the Commonwealth, the territories do not have the same legal status as states. A new nation and a new Parliament When the Commonwealth of Australia was declared on 1 January 1901, a ceremony was held in Centennial Park in Sydney. The first Governor-General, Lord Hopetoun, was sworn in and the first Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Barton, and federal ministers took the oath of office.

Australians celebrated their nationhood, participating in parades, processions, sporting events and school pageants. The first federal elections for the new Parliament were held on 29 and 30 March 1901. The first Parliament was held in Melbourne on 9 May 1901. It was officially opened by the Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V). The opening ceremony was large and elaborate and further celebrations were held. Australia's federal system Under the Australian Constitution, the new states united within the Commonwealth. Power was to be shared between the federal Parliament and state parliaments. The federal Parliament would make laws about national matters, such as defence, immigration, trade and the environment. The power to make and manage federal law would be divided between the Parliament (who would make the law), the Executive (who would put the law into action) and the Judiciary (who would make judgements about the law). The federal Parliament would be made up of the Queen (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate and the House of Representatives. Laws could only be passed or changed if agreed to by both houses. The Australian federal system took some of its features from the British Parliament and some from the United States system of governance.

More information In office - Edmund Barton - Australia's PMs - Australia's Prime Ministers AUSTRALIA'S PRIME MINISTERS Unfinished Federation business ‘Our new and terrific task’ – creating the Commonwealth The Commonwealth of Australia was born soon after midday on 1 January 1901, when the Governor-General read out the documents signed by Queen Victoria to the 200,000 people assembled in Sydney’s Centennial Park and took his oaths. Edmund Barton's Oath of Allegiance, Executive Councillor's Oath and Official Oath, sworn on 1 January 1901. NAA: A5447, 1, p. 6 Page two of Edmund Barton's Oath of Allegiance, 1 January 1901. NAA: A5447, 1, p. 7 Page three of Edmund Barton's Oath of Allegiance, 1 January 1901. NAA: A5447, 1, p. 8 The new nation was vast. Five states stretched across a continent of 7.5 million square kilometres, with the sixth state the island of Tasmania.

Australia’s population was tiny in comparison with most other nations, with only 3.8 million non-Indigenous people in 1901. Barton and his eight ministers started a government with no parliament, no public service and no accommodation. The Prime Minister’s first office was a borrowed room in Sydney’s Parliament House. His secretary, Arthur Hunt , worked from a makeshift desk in a hallway. On 10 January Barton had his first Cabinet reshuffle when the sudden death of James Dickson meant John Forrest took the Defence portfolio and James Drake joined the ministry as Postmaster-General. The immediate tasks were setting up the basic machinery of government and arranging to hold the first federal elections three months later. The first parliament Barton’s government was returned at the March elections, with the only change in Barton’s ministry being Philip Fysh who replaced fellow Tasmanian Neil Lewis . The next step was the opening of the first parliament on 9 May 1901. Victoria’s state parliamentarians vacated their Parliament House to provide the temporary home – for the next 26 years – of the federal parliament.

Not only was Barton’s office located in the Spring Street building, but so were his lodgings – a small attic space where he slept, and sometimes provided impromptu suppers for his Cabinet ministers. The first parliament made laws ranging from the three tariff acts for raising revenue, to the far-reaching policy agenda Barton had set out during his election campaign. Among the first new laws debated were bills to exclude Pacific Islanders, Asian people and others in order to make the new nation a ‘White Australia’. Both the Pacific Island Labourers Bill and the Immigration Restriction Bill were passed shortly before parliament rose for the first Christmas recess, and enacted when the Governor-General assented to them, the former on 17 December 1901 and the latter a week later. This became known as the White Australia Policy. The following year, the law granting women the vote on the same basis as men was enacted. Though not a supporter of women’s suffrage, Barton acquitted his part of the bargain with the suffrage organisations – the vote in national elections in return for their support for Federation. One of the problems the government wrestled with was the shortfall between the allowances parliament allocated the Governor-General and Lord Hopetoun’s actual expenditure in his first year of office.

There was a difference in the government’s idea of the scale of the functions of the office, and Lord and Lady Hopetoun’s view of what was necessary, particularly in the year of a Royal visit. With another vice-regal prospect waiting in the wings, no middle ground was found. In 1902 South Australia’s Governor, Lord Tennyson , became Australia’s second Governor-General. Executive Council 1902 – the ministry of Edmund Barton in 1901, showing the following members of the first federal Cabinet: standing (left to right): JG Drake, Richard O'Connor, Philip Fysh, CC Kingston, John Forrest; seated (left to right): WJ Lyne, Edmund Barton, Lord Tennyson (Governor-General), Alfred Deakin and George Turner. NAA: A1200, L13365 The term of the first parliament was seventeen months – from May 1901 to October 1902. In this period there were 220 sitting days in the House of Representatives and 178 in the Senate.

Fifty-nine acts were passed, mostly setting the legal, financial and administrative foundations of the Commonwealth, as provided for by the Constitution. For the last third of this period, Barton was overseas and Alfred Deakin was acting Prime Minister. Despite this, Barton held the record for length and frequency of speeches in the House of Representatives. The only person to occupy more columns in the Hansard record of the debates in the first parliament was his oldest friend, Senator Richard O’Connor . A ‘reasonable imperialism’ Edmund Barton became the Prime Minister of a nation at war. Volunteer forces from the colonies had been fighting in South Africa since Britain had declared war in October 1899. At the end of his first year in office, Britain sought additional troops from the new Commonwealth and Barton secured the parliament‘s agreement. By the time the ‘Bushmens’ Contingent’, the first Commonwealth force, arrived in South Africa, the war was in its closing phase and ended on 30 May 1902. By then Barton, accompanied by Jane Barton and Austin Chapman , was on his way to London to represent the Commonwealth at the coronation of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, in June 1902, and at the Imperial Conference to follow.

Lord Hopetoun had recommended Barton for the highest order of knighthood available and, in the coronation honours list, Barton was made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and St George (KGCMG). Among the many presentations to the Prime Minister on this visit was one to acknowledge the assistance given by Australian women in the long fight for votes for women in Britain. Barton later gave the framed address, given to him by the suffragette leaders, to Sydney feminist Rose Scott . The Bartons had an intensive round of engagements during their summer in Britain. While the coronation on 9 August was the focus, many other events were of more direct concern for Australia. Among the most important was the ten-year agreement Barton negotiated for the nation’s contribution to the upkeep of an expanded British naval squadron at Sydney, in return for training of a local naval reserve. His arguments also achieved an implicit protectionist recognition of the link between Australia’s revenue from imperial trade and Australia’s ability to resource defence and other services provided to the empire.

This was the first shot in Australia’s long campaign for preferential trade within the empire – a policy refrain of Australian prime ministers until Britain turned to its geographic neighbours and joined the European Economic Community in 1973. One of Barton’s final challenges as Prime Minister was to forge parliamentary support for the Anglo–Japanese naval agreement introduced in July 1903. In May and June that year, three Japanese warships marked Britain’s alliance with Japan by including the ports of Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart, and the Sydney naval base, in a training cruise. In arranging the colourful celebrations highlighting the visit, Barton ordered the invitations to be ‘1000 times sweeter than sugar’ and the visiting admiral, officers and sailors were welcomed as ‘not strangers, but allies and friends’ of Australians. Eighteen months later, Australia’s role in implementing the Anglo–Japanese alliance was recognised when the Japanese government awarded both Edmund Barton and Lord Tennyson the Order of the Rising Sun First Class, still the highest honour Japan accords foreigners. Unfinished Federation business Barton’s tactical skills and his ability to shape consensus gave the government a full term in office to begin building to the constitutional blueprint.

This blueprint, and the policy issues distinguishing the Protection, Free Trade and Labor parties, opened national debate on issues covering relations with Britain, a ‘White Australia’, defence, the tariff questions, the High Court, old age pensions, Commonwealth–State relations in finance and industrial matters, and federal responsibilities for railways including the proposed east–west transcontinental railway. Some constitutional matters, such as the federal conciliation and arbitration role, and the provision for establishing a permanent location for the seat of government, remained unsettled as parliament geared up for the election due in its third year. Neither of these matters would be resolved easily. Among the most pressing business in the last session of the first parliament, from May to December 1903, was legislation to establish the High Court as provided in the Constitution. The Judiciary Act 1903, enacted on 25 August 1903, established the Court with three, rather than the five judges originally proposed. Barton’s term as Prime Minister ended before the first parliament did. His last speech in the House was on 23 September 1903. The next day he informed Cabinet that he and Richard O’Connor would accept appointment to the new High Court.

That afternoon, Barton tendered his resignation as Minister for External Affairs and as ‘the head of government and your chief adviser’ to the Governor-General. Edmund Barton's resignation as Minister of External Affairs and Head of Government on 24 September 1903. NAA: A5447, 2, p. 6 Page two of Edmund Barton's resignation on 24 September 1903. NAA: A5447, 2, p. 7 The parliament Barton had led included six future prime ministers, as well as Isaac Isaacs who, thirty years later, became the first Australian-born Governor-General. The qualities that made Barton leader of the Federation movement were evident in his role as the nation’s first head of government. He led a Cabinet of experienced and able ministers, many of them former colonial premiers. His failings were no secret. Even his close colleagues, like Alfred Deakin or Arthur Hunt , commented on serious flaws such as Barton’s inattention to detail and lack of punctuality. A self-indulgence that made it difficult for him to address habitual behaviours like these also led to much-publicised periods of drinking and dining.

Notorious newspaper editor John Norton even dubbed him ‘Toby Toss-Pot’. Like many of his contemporaries, Barton envisaged a democracy of equals, not the equality of all to govern. That all are equal before the law was a fundamental tenet to Barton as barrister, politician and judge. But to him, and to most of his legal and parliamentary colleagues, this did not mean that all were equal to the responsibility of making the law. As Australia’s ‘prime’ minister – the first to fill the role – Edmund Barton is now known as the man who by worthy example, led the way for a new nation. But looking back at the nation’s first century, Barton has a place among the first rank of Australia’s Prime Ministers, if only for his ability to glimpse, pursue and secure ‘one great thing’, the founding of Australia as a nation-state. Sources Bolton, Geoffrey, Edmund Barton, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2000. Cuneen, Chris, King’s Men: Australian Governors-General from Hopetoun to Isaacs, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1983.

Keenan, JJ (comp.), Inaugural Celebrations of the Commonwealth of Australia, Government Printer, Sydney, 1904. Souter, Gavin, Acts of Parliament, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1988. From the National Archives of Australia collection First Commonwealth ministry, Barton ministry 1901–03, ministerial oaths, NAA: A5447, 1 Print - Vrroom A5447, 1 Learning content This is the oath of allegiance to Queen Victoria and 'Her Heirs and Successors according to law' signed by Edmund Barton as he was sworn in to the first government ministry of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901. The Governor-General, Lord Hopetoun, countersigned to witness that the oath had been 'Sworn and subscribed' before him. The simple printed document has Barton's name and the date of signing inserted. Educational value By signing this oath of allegiance, Edmund Barton (1849–1920) completed the process of being sworn in to the first government ministry of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Although Barton signed an Executive Councillor's oath and an official oath as Minister for External Affairs in addition to this document, he did not sign any official oath as Prime Minister. There was no such oath because the office of prime minister is not separately designated in Australia's Constitution. Barton's swearing-in formed a significant part of the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in Sydney on 1 January 1901. Following a grand procession to Centennial Park, the inauguration ceremonies began with prayers and proclamations followed by the swearing-in of the Governor-General, who in turn swore in Barton, six other ministers of state and three other office-holders or honorary ministers in Australia's first national government. In order to be sworn in, Barton needed to satisfy the Governor-General Designate that he was able to form a government until elections could be held for the first federal parliament. Just before Christmas 1900, Lord Hopetoun (1860–1908) had invited Barton to form a government, and on Christmas Day Barton was able to announce that he had secured the agreement of prominent Australian politicians, including three state premiers, to serve in his cabinet.

The language of the oath makes it clear that the new nation had a constitutional monarch, that it would remain a loyal part of the British Empire and that its leaders would be 'faithful and bear true Allegiance' to the Crown. This form of words was set out in a schedule of the Constitution to be sworn or affirmed by every incoming senator or member of the House of Representatives. Barton was the logical choice to be invited to form a government and thus become Australia's first prime minister. He had been a prominent politician in New South Wales and a tireless champion of federation, attending all the conventions and contributing greatly to the drafting the Constitution. By 1897 he had become an acknowledged leader of the federation movement and in 1900 led the Australian colonies' delegation to limit change to the Constitution Bill by the British Parliament. In spite of his leadership of the federation movement, Barton very nearly did not receive the opportunity to become prime minister. On 19 December 1900, the Governor-General Designate had invited Sir William Lyne (1844–1913), Premier of New South Wales and an opponent of federation, to form the government.

When Barton refused to serve in the ministry and Alfred Deakin (1856–1919) galvanised interstate opposition, Lyne's efforts failed and Hopetoun turned to Barton. Learning content partnership This learning content – description and educational value statement – co-created by National Digital Learning Resource Network and National Archives of Australia . © Education Services Australia Ltd and National Archives of Australia, 2007-10 Edmund Barton Edmund Barton Edmund Barton (1849-1920) First Prime Minister of Australia Edmund Barton emerged as a leader of the federation movement following the Australasian National Convention of 1891. In 1894 and 1895 he worked tirelessly to raise popular support for Federation through the formation of federal leagues. Barton was the first choice of the people of New South Wales to attend the Convention of 1897/8, where he was elected leader of the Convention, and was a member of the constitutional and drafting committees. He campaigned vigorously throughout New South Wales for a ‘yes’ vote in the referendums on the Constitution Bill. In 1900 he led an Australian delegation to London to explain the Constitution to the Imperial government.

Cartoon by Spry, Vanity Fair, 16 November 1902 Edmund Barton, 1908 National Library of Australia Barton was Prime Minister and Minister for External Affairs from 1 January 1901 to 23 September 1903. He was commissioned by the Governor-General, Lord Hopetoun, when it became clear that Sir William Lyne , his previous choice, was unable to form a ministry, and that Barton was the man who held the loyalty and support of many who would be leaders in the new Parliament. The member for Hunter (NSW) in the first Parliament, Barton led a team of ministers, who had all been leaders in their home states, with tact and diplomacy. Lacking a majority in the Senate, and by no means assured of one in the House of Representatives, Barton’s government nevertheless managed during the life of the first Parliament to build a legislative framework for national policy, and to establish the administrative machinery of the Commonwealth. Barton resigned his office and his parliamentary seat in September 1903, and was appointed a judge of the High Court of Australia. Barton’s successor as Prime Minister was his friend and supporter, Alfred Deakin . Alfred Deakin

Question: What "Commonwealth" was formed on 1 January 1901, with Lord Hopetoun as Governor-General and Edmund Barton as Prime Minister?
Answer: Australia