On 1 January 1901, Britain’s six Australian colonies (New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania) united in a federation and became a self-governing Commonwealth within the British Empire. Following the example of Canada in 1867, Australia retained close ties with Britain, keeping Queen Victoria as sovereign and allowing Britain to be responsible for foreign policy decisions.
The first Parliament was opened by Prince George, Duke of Cornwall and York (the future King George V) in May 1901, following the Queen’s death and the accession of his father as King Edward VII.
Dedicated to the people of Australia and published in 1901, The Annotated Constitution of the Australian Commonwealth was compiled by Sir John Quick and Sir Robert Garran, two prominent figures in the negotiations surrounding federation in the 1890s.
With the passage of the Australia Act in 1986 the final political ties between Britain and Australia were severed, although Australia did remain a Commonwealth Realm, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as sovereign.