Western Australia was not a popular place, it was considered isolated to Eastern Colonies. Immigrants were not keen on moving there as it was still a convict based colony, so they discovery of gold meant great things for Australia Easterners, which were referred to as “T’othersiders” (Separation Movement on the Eastern

On the 1st of January 1901, over one hundred years ago, Australia left its strong ties with Britain and federated. Massive celebrations took place in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. The one thing that is hard to stop or even slow down is progressive change. Australia was a changing and developing nation, which was growing with power and population. Although all did not support federation, it was really inevitable. It could be directly related to the idea to become a republic. Some Australians may oppose it now, but it is a likely fact that Australia will continue to grow and the people and governments may see it the right time to become a republic. Change and progression is unstoppable, look at technology, it does not mean even one agrees with it, but it is unstoppable. Now that is has been over 100 years later, Australia has proven itself to be the luckiest country in the world and Federation was just one step in shaping the Australia that is today.

Goldfields 1894-1904 Readings pg 42) became increasingly interested in WA and moved over here in thousands. By 1890, WA’s population increased from just 46,000 to 180,000 by 1901 (Gold, 2001 www.liswa.wa.gov.au/federation/index.html) which created both wealth, prosperity and saw the end of WA stagnating industry and in 1898, Fremantle Port was completed, and its first mailings arrived in 1900. This caused Western Australia’s reputation of being isolated to vanish, with more immigrants pouring in than ever before.

The Government of Western Australia was lead by John Forrest, a labor and anti-federationalist. Joining him in his opposition was many conservative agricultural districts. John Forrest had strong support by some papers and most importantly by the Legislative Council. Liberal politicians George Leake and Walter James along with late politician John Kirwan were John Forrest’s major opposition and extremely pro-federation. The discovery of Gold lead to an increase in an Eastern goldfield workers and miners who disliked the John Forrest government and soon also became a strong support base for the push towards federation. Each group had their own strong id

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