Political history
What you can find in the Library
Capturing a permanent documentary record of Australia’s political history has long been a priority for us.
We hold the largest collection of political memorabilia in Australia, covering every Australian federal election since Federation in 1901.
Our collection also includes books and journals, historical manuscripts and oral histories useful for researching political history.
Featured resources
These are selected resources from our rich collection of historical material supporting the study of Australian politics and government.
Find out how to search the catalogue for more covering all formats, including pictures, manuscripts, oral histories and ephemera.
The founding documents of The Commonwealth of Australia by David Eastman (1994)
Copies of original documents (1891-1903) involved in the process of creating the Commonwealth of Australia RFq 342.94029 E13
The constitution of a federal commonwealth: the making and meaning of the Australian constitution by Nicholas Aroney (2009)
Looks at historical, political and legal issues and discusses how the Constitution came into being
The Centenary companion to Australian federation by Helen Irving (1999)
Looks at the individual colonies as they made their way towards membership of the Australian Commonwealth in 1901. With cross-referenced short alphabetical entries covering key events, people and concepts
Lion and kangaroo: the initiation of Australia by Gavin Souter (2001)
A detailed account of the first two decades of the Commonwealth of Australia
Collins milestones in Australian history: 1788 to the present compiled by Robin Brown (1986)
Provides an overview, dates, and significant events. Each year represented has a section headed “History, Politics, Economics, Law”. Available in the Main Reading Room Reference Collection, call number RF 994.00202 B879
Australia and the world: a documentary history from the 1870s to the 1970s compiled by Neville Meaney (1985)
Looks at Australia’s foreign relations, attitudes to international affairs and the evolution of foreign policies from colonial times
A handbook of Australian government and politics, 1890-1964 by Colin A. Hughes and B. D. Graham
These handbooks include details of election results for the Commonwealth and states, as well as lists of cabinets, governors, and governors-general. Available in the Main Reading Room Reference Collection, call number RF 320.994 H893
Also available: 1965-1974, 1975-1984 and 1985-1999.
Australian political facts by Ian McAllister, Malcolm MacKerras, Carolyn Brown Boldiston (1997)
Includes data about politics in its broadest sense, ordered and classified, and supported by a comprehensive index.
The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate edited by Ann Millar (2000)
A biographical account of senators and history of the Senate. Entries are arranged according to the state each senator represented. RF 328.94092 B615
Trove newspapers include early official gazettes, such as:
- The Bulletin (1880-1984)
An influential newspaper in Australian culture and politics, especially in the early years of its publication. Also available on microfilm and online (check the dates) - The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser
The first newspaper printed in Australia, running from 5 March 1803 until 20 October 1842
Also see our Government gazettes research guide
Geoff Pryor, Bill Hayden climbing a cliff on his quest for the Prime Minister's chair, 1979, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-156302993
Political cartoons express contemporary opinions about public issues and officials.
The Library holds cartoon collections, including:
Australian Constitution (full text)
Australian Parliament House
Documenting a Democracy
110 key founding documents, Museum of Australian Democracy
Australian Constitution and Federation
National Archives of Australia archived website
Federation Gateway
National Library of Australia archived website
Australian Federation Full-Text Database
University of Sydney
The Referendums 1898–1900
Australian Electoral Commission fact sheet
Australian Prime Ministers
Museum of Australian Democracy
Celebrations as first Federal Parliament meets
Norman Lindsay & John Longstaff, Official programme of functions and displays to celebrate the opening of the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York, at Melbourne, 1901, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-226142741
The ninth of May is an important date in Australia’s political history.
The first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia opened with over a week of celebrations on 9 May 1901. HRH The Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V) led the opening on behalf of King Edward VII at Melbourne’s Exhibition Building, being the city’s only location big enough to accommodate the 12,000 guests.
Precisely 26 years later, on 9 May 1927, a purpose-built Parliament House was opened in Canberra - which is now the Museum of Australian Democracy.
On 9 May 1988, the new and current Parliament House was opened on Capital Hill in Canberra.
The original Australian constitution
The Constitution, or Act to Constitute the Commonwealth of Australia, originated in the British Parliament and was in the custody of the National Archives of the United Kingdom until it was loaned to Australia in 1988.
In 1990 the British Government made a gift of the document to the Australian people. You can read the Prime Minister’s speech at the handover of the Constitution Act online.
The National Archives of Australia in Canberra holds the Royal Commission of Assent to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (UK), which may be available for viewing at special events and by booked groups.
You can read a digitised copy of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act on the Australian Parliament House website or in the Museum of Australian Democracy's online publication Documenting a Democracy.
Queen Victoria's letters patent dated 9th July, 1900 giving Royal Assent to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 [manuscript], detail, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1140174
Queen Victoria's letters patent dated 9th July, 1900 giving Royal Assent to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 [manuscript], detail, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1140174
Related Library collections
Below is a sample of some of our collections that contain material of interest relating to the study of Australian political history.
Find out more about individual collections formed by significant people or around subjects of interest in our Guides to selected collections.
Papers of Sir Anthony Musgrave, Microform, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1126183854
Case study: Referendum questions 1898-99
Australian Federation Referendum Results 1899, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136434299
Australian Federation Referendum Results 1899, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136434299
Q: Can you please help me confirm the format and text of the referendum questions actually voted on in each colony in the constitutional referendums of 1898-99 leading to the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia?
Referendums were held in different states between 1898 and 1900. A timeline is available from the Parliamentary Education Office.
You can search the Trove newspapers for reports of these, and find the wording of the ballot papers. AustLii also has online copies of the Australasian Federation Enablings Acts for 1895 and 1899, which include the ballot wording.
June 1898
Referendums were held in Tasmania, South Australia Victoria and New South Wales.
The 1898 wording was:
AUSTRALASIAN FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
Ballot Paper.
Are you in favour of the proposed Federal Constitution Bill?
“Yes.”
“No.”
If you are in favour of the Bill strike out the above word “No.”
If you are against the Bill strike out the above word “Yes.”
See the Zeehan and Dundas Herald of 31 May 1898 and other 1898 newspapers for reports of this. The Library has a How to vote poster for the Yes campaign showing this wording.
In NSW, while the majority voted yes, it was not sufficient to pass the mandated 80,000 approval mark for that colony.
January 1899
Premiers agreed to amend the Federal Constitution Bill to meet the concerns of QLD and NSW.
April/September 1899
Referendums were held, with the wording ‘Are you in favour of the proposed Federal Constitution Bill as amended?’
An example can be seen in the Western Champion of 3 March 1899.
The State Library of NSW has a copy of the ballot sheet for NSW.
All colonies that took part passed the referendum this time around.
July 1900
A referendum was held in Western Australia.
The same wording was used, as seen in the Australasian Federation Enabling Act (Western Australia), found online at AustLii.
Get help with your research
Our specialist staff can help you with your research, to locate resources and use our microform and scanning equipment but they cannot undertake extensive or ongoing genealogical, historical or other research on your behalf.
Find out more in our Information and research services policy.
Continue your journey
More to explore
Photo of Dorothy Tangney and Enid Lyons entering Parliament House in 1943, from the Papers of Dorothy Margaret Tangney, 1938-1986, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3190082597
Julian Ashton & Howard Ashton & Otto Von Drehnen, (1901), [An invitation to meet Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York in celebration of the opening of the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135825982