Our collection of maps and atlases contains some interesting items which can help provide context and background to Federation.

Federation provided the opportunity for composers to express their pride in the new nation of Australia. The National Library of Australia holds a rich collection of music from this era.

Newspapers provide an invaluable resource for researching  Australian Federation, reflecting the opinions of the colonial societies.

A comprehensive collection of original records of the Federation movement plus books, pictures, music and other material related to Federation.

There are a number of online Australian databases, both current and archival, subscribed to by the Library that provide access to information on Federation and related issues.

The National Library collects pictorial material in order to document significant people, places and events in Australian history and society.

The Australian and overseas printed collections at the National Library of Australia contain substantial material which can support research into Federation in Australia.

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.

The Library appreciates your feedback, which we use to improve our services.

Dr Georgia Pike-Rowney presented a participatory musical lecture on her 2020 National Library Fellowship research about community singing in interwar Australia.