On 1 January 1901, the six existing self-governing British colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, came together in union to create the Commonwealth of Australia.

Find detailed records of Federal Government processes, actions, documents, statements and commentaries in our collection.

Use this guide to help find and access resources in our collection about Australia's climate action protests, anti-mining protests and the Franklin Dam blockade. 

Find out how to use electoral rolls to locate your family members or other peoples location or addresses over the years and who was living with them.

Elections and referendums are key turning points in Australia’s political history.

Locate Commonwealth legislation online and in our collections, including point-in-time versions, reprints, and consolidated legislation.

British Parliamentary publications are valuable primary sources for research into British and dominion history, including Australia.

Learn what Bills and explanatory memoranda are, their purpose in the law-making process, and where they can be found.

This guide explains how to find and access Australian legislation, organised by level of government (federal, state/territory, and local) and by type of law, including primary legislation (Acts or statutes) and delegated legislation (subordinate legislation). 

Discover more about the legislation of the Australian Capital Territory.

Access key resources from the Library's collection related to the lead-up to the 1967 referendum, the significance of the historic 'Yes' vote, and its ongoing legacy in the pursuit of justice, equality, and recognition for First Australians.