The Museum of Australian Democracy acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

The museum respectfully acknowledges the role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to play in shaping Australia’s democracy.

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    Australia's Federation

    Explore the unique journey that the Australian colonies took to federation, while discovering the importance of active citizenship.

    Getting It Together is segmented into seven packages. The National Story package addresses the journey to Federation from a national perspective. There are also packages for each of the six Australian colonies.

    Using historical sources such as newspaper extracts, cartoons, speeches and biographies, the packages examine the story of colonisation and the Australian Federation.  

    Each package is divided into three themes:

    • People and Places explores the way of life in each colony, prior to Federation.
    • Road to Federation examines the political issues debated by colonial parliaments in deciding whether or not to join in Federation.
    • Celebrations and Futures looks at the way Federation was celebrated in 1901 and its continuing importance today.

    Teacher Guide

    • Teacher Guide (3.9 MB PDF)

    The National Story

    • Introduction (2.3 MB PDF)
    • People and Places (8.8 MB PDF)
    • Road to Federation (7 MB PDF)
    • Celebrations and Futures (6.3 MB PDF)

    New South Wales

    • Introduction (2.3 MB PDF)
    • People and Places (5.7 MB PDF)
    • Road to Federation (6.8 MB PDF)
    • Celebrations and Futures (4.6 MB PDF)

    Victoria

    • Introduction (2.3 MB PDF)
    • People and Places (5.7 MB PDF)
    • Road to Federation (5.5 MB PDF)
    • Celebrations and Futures (5.1 MB PDF)

    Queensland

    • Introduction (2.3 MB PDF)
    • People and Places (7.5 MB PDF)
    • Road to Federation (4.5 MB PDF)
    • Celebrations and Futures (4.2 MB PDF)

    South Australia

    • Introduction (2.3 MB PDF)
    • People and Places (6.6 MB PDF)
    • Road to Federation (5.6 MB PDF)
    • Celebrations and Futures (4.7 MB PDF)

    Western Australia

    • Introduction (2.3 MB PDF)
    • People and Places (5.2 MB PDF)
    • Road to Federation (4.7 MB PDF)
    • Celebrations and Futures (3.4 MB PDF)

    Tasmania

    • Introduction (2.3 MB PDF)
    • People and Places (4.4 MB PDF)
    • Road to Federation (3.7 MB PDF)
    • Celebrations and Futures (3.3 MB PDF)

    Subscribe: Teachers' newsletter The Memo

    *Australian Curriculum v9 – Curriculum Learning Areas

    HASSHistoryCivics and Citizenship

    Years

    5-67-8

    Themes

    Federation

    Useful resources

    Getting It Together: from colonies to federation learning resource

    Australian Curriculum learning areas

    Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

    18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600, Australia

    PO Box 3934
    Manuka ACT 2603

    9am to 5pm daily 
    Closed Christmas Day

    ABN: 30 620 774 963

    Telephone: 02 6270 8222

    Enquiries:
    info@moadoph.gov.au

    Please note: video surveillance is used 24 hours a day around and throughout the building and may be used for research purposes

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    The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House is a Corporate Commonwealth Entity within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts