Who drafted the Australian Constitution

Thanks for your question Kirah and Kate! Before Federation in 1901, Australia did not exist as a nation but was a collection of 6 British colonies. When the colonies agreed to unite – federate – to form the Commonwealth of Australia, they needed a set of rules—a constitution—for how the new nation should work.

The Australian Constitution was drafted at a series of meetings attended by representatives from these colonies. Most of these representatives were members of the colonial parliaments; for example, Edmund Barton—who later became Australia’s first Prime Minister—and Henry Parkes both came from the New South Wales Parliament, Andrew Inglis Clarke was a member of the Tasmanian Parliament and Alfred Deakin came from the Victorian Parliament. After the Constitution was drafted, a referendum – a vote of the people – was held in each colony between June 1899 and July 1900 to approve the document.

Formal portrait of group of 14 men at the Australasian Federation Conference, 1890.

Members of the Australasian Federation Conference, 1890

National Library of Australia, AN14292110

Members of the Australasian Federation Conference, 1890

Formal portrait of group of 14 men at the Australasian Federation Conference, 1890.

National Library of Australia, AN14292110

Description

This sepia-toned photo was taken at the Australasian Federation Conference in Melbourne in 1890. These 14 men were delegates from the 6 Australian colonies and the colony of New Zealand. At the Conference, they discussed the idea that the colonies should unite. Notable advocate for Federation Henry Parkes is standing fourth from left, and Alfred Deakin (who would go on to become Prime Minister of Australia) is standing sixth from left.