Commonwealth of Australia Coat of Arms
For Peace, Order and Good Government: The first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia
Navigation
Origins
Early proposals
Six colonies
Drafting a constitution
Declaration of the Commonwealth
Election
Conducting the first Federal election
Who could vote?
The election campaign
Opening
9 May 1901
The royal visit
Celebrations
Members
The first federal parliamentarians
Ministry of May, 1901
Edmund Barton
Work
Political parties
Legislative program
Relationship between the houses
Administration

Work of the First Parliament

A Nation-building Parliament

At sessions in Parliament House, Melbourne, between May 1901 and October 1903, the First Parliament undertook a solid legislative program.