The Corowa Conference (the "people's convention") called on the colonial parliaments to pass enabling acts, allowing the election of delegates to a new constitutional convention aimed at drafting a proposal and putting it to a referendum in each colony.

In 1893, the Corowa Conference, often referred to as the "people's convention," played a pivotal role in advancing the cause of Australian federation. Held in the town of Corowa, New South Wales, this conference called upon the colonial parliaments to pass enabling acts, which would allow for the election of delegates to a new constitutional convention. This new convention aimed to draft a proposal for federation and submit it to a referendum in each colony. The Corowa Conference was a crucial step in the democratic process that ultimately led to the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia. Background: The Push for Federation By the early 1890s, the movement for the federation of the Australian colonies had gained significant momentum. Previous attempts, such as the 1891 National Australasian Convention, had laid the groundwork by drafting a constitution. However, economic depression and political disagreements had stalled the process. The need for a more inclusive and democratic approach to federation became apparent, leading to the organization of the Corowa Conference. The Corowa Conference The Corowa Conference took place from July 31 to August 1, 1893, in the small border town of Corowa. This location was symbolic, situated on the Murray River, which forms part of the boundary between New South Wales and Victoria. The conference was organized by the Australian Federation League and attended by a mix of politicians, businessmen, and ordinary citizens who were passionate about the federation cause. Key Resolutions and Proposals One of the most significant outcomes of the Corowa Conference was the resolution proposed by Dr. John Quick, a lawyer and delegate from Bendigo, Victoria. Quick's proposal was both practical and innovative, addressing the need to involve the general public more directly in the federation process. His resolution called for the colonial parliaments to: Pass Enabling Acts: These acts would authorize the election of delegates to a new constitutional convention. Hold a New Constitutional Convention: The delegates, elected by the people, would convene to draft a new constitution for the federation. Submit the Draft Constitution to Referendums: The proposed constitution would be put to a referendum in each colony, allowing the people to directly vote on the federation proposal. The Impact of the Corowa Conference The resolutions from the Corowa Conference were groundbreaking because they shifted the momentum towards a more democratic and inclusive process for achieving federation. By involving the public more directly, the conference addressed the previous shortcomings where federation efforts were seen as elite-driven and disconnected from the broader population. The Path to Federation Following the Corowa Conference, the colonial parliaments began to take action in line with the resolutions. In 1895, a formal meeting of the colonial premiers in Hobart agreed to the process recommended by the Corowa Conference. This led to the passage of enabling acts in the colonies, paving the way for the election of delegates to a new constitutional convention. The new constitutional convention met in stages between 1897 and 1898, with delegates elected by the people. This convention produced a revised draft of the Australian Constitution, which was put to referendums in the colonies. Despite some initial setbacks, including the need for further revisions, the final draft was approved by a majority of voters in each colony. The Federation of Australia The successful referendums in the colonies culminated in the British Parliament passing the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act in 1900. Queen Victoria gave her royal assent on July 9, 1900, and on January 1, 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was officially proclaimed, marking the unification of the Australian colonies into a single nation. #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife #CorowaConference #AustralianFederation #AustralianHistory #CommonwealthOfAustralia #DemocraticProcess