Forging the Nation - Federation: the First 20 years

• Forging the Nation: home
• Federation
• National identity
• Seeking security
• The First World War
• Towards the future
• Australians

• Introduction
• Commonwealth celebrations
• Governors-General
• Prime Ministers

Commonwealth celebrations

The creation of the new nation was celebrated in pageantry, parades, dinners and speeches. The festive mood lasted for days. On 1 January 1901 the inauguration ceremony was conducted in Sydney. It consisted of a monster parade followed by the proclamation of the Commonwealth and the swearing in of the Governor-General at Centennial Park.

The Sydney parade stretched for eight kilometres along the decorated streets and was watched by huge, noisy crowds. In Melbourne parades and celebrations were held on 9 May 1901 to mark the opening of the first federal parliament.

Federation programAWMPROP 01896.002

Federation invitation. Handsomely produced publications became treasured souvenirs of activities connected with the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia. AWMPROP2075

From The Bulletin 4 May 1901, pg 1. By permission of National Library of Australia.