The Indissoluble Federal Commonwealth

Queen Victoria’s Letters Patent, signed on 29 October 1900, established the first Commonwealth office, that of her representative, the Governor-General. The Letters Patent declare the powers of the Governor-General to constitute and appoint Judges and Ministers of State, and grant the use of a private seal. With the Constitution Act, the Royal Assent and the Royal Instructions to the Governor-General, this is one of the four documents which created the new Commonwealth. Queen Victoria appointed Read more…

When Queen Victoria signed this document on 9 July 1900, the Bill providing for the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia became law, enacting the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act and the founding of the Commonwealth. The Commission of Assent, with the original Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act and the Letters Patent establishing the office of Governor-General, are thus the ‘birth certificates’ and the ‘key instruments’ of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Commonwealth Constitution Bill Read more…

The Constitution of the Australian Commonwealth, is the supreme law under which the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia operates. When Great Britain settled Australia, they brought with them their central form of Governance that had operated for centuries. Before Federation, Australia consisted of six Colonies. Turning six Colonies into the Commonwealth of Australia required an Act of the UK Parliament. The Act that the UK Parliament used to Federate Australia was called; “An Act Read more…