New South Wales Statehood: 1 January 1901, Federation Day

From Colony to State

New South Wales (NSW) became a state of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901, when the six British colonies federated.

Pre-Federation Timeline

• 1788: British penal colony established at Sydney Cove.
• 1823: Legislative Council created (first representative body).
• 1855: Responsible government granted (bicameral parliament).
• 1890s: Federation conventions (Corowa, Bathurst, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne) draft Constitution.
• 1899–1900: Referendums in all six colonies approve Constitution.
• 9 July 1900: UK Parliament passes Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act.
• 1 Jan 1901: Proclamation in Centennial Park, Sydney; Lord Hopetoun sworn as Governor-General; Edmund Barton becomes first PM.

NSW at Federation

• Largest colony by population (~1.36M).
• Sydney = largest city, commercial hub.
• Constitutional compromise: capital to be in NSW but ≥100 mi from Sydney → Canberra (ACT) created 1911.

Significance

NSW's entry was pivotal—its premier (George Reid, then William Lyne, then Edmund Barton) drove negotiations. Today, NSW remains Australia's most populous state (~8.2M) and economic engine.