Why was Australia called a Commonwealth after Federation?
The name Commonwealth was adopted at the first federal Convention in Sydney in 1891 to describe Australia nationally as a political, rather than simply a geographical, entity. The name was rather controversial at the time (some thought it was republican!), but people were quickly won over when they learned that its meaning was ‘common weal’ or common good. The name survived through the writing of the final draft of Australia’s Constitution. It was adopted with the enactment of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act in 1900 and the inauguration of the Commonwealth in 1901. The name should not be confused with the Commonwealth of Nations, which was formed in 1946 out of those nations which had once been part of the British Empire and which today, for example, meet in Commonwealth Heads of State (CHOGM) meetings and compete in the Commonwealth Games. Why is it important to celebrate Australia’s Centenary of Federation? All nations celebrate their great national milestones, in the
