In 1901 Australia had reached a climax in what had been a tremulous and lengthy stretch for independence and identity. The product of the federation process, Australia, was a creation in many ways continuing from its pre 1901 state. Yet there is much to support the claim that Australia at this time had been born to a new existence. John Molony, in his research states that federation had not been achieved easily or quickly, and whilst the majority of Australians were supportive of federation in 1901, few got emotional or excited about the whole affair. Even so, there was little change in everyday life and attitudes in the post federation society. Molony leaves ground that this lack of excitement may be as federation had been achieved "without any civil discord of an extreme kind" . .
To Australians, according to Molony, federation was an anticlimax, and the excited transition from colony to commonwealth came and went with the light. Hirst however places this lack of affect to the nature of the federation process. Federation as it was achieved was by large a settlement in terms of "a conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it" . Whilst federation was a widely shared goal, predominantly in terms of financial and social benefits, the federationalists came from a variety of opposing spheres. In the final stages of the 1890's, there was much opposition in the Australian federation league between those parties seeking federation under the crown, and those seeking a more socialist annexation of the country . Whilst both parties sought an independent nation, the verdict to remain under the crown was by large an economic and defence decision . Stuart Macintyre supports this notion as he describes the process of federation in Australia as an overrated attempt at compromise . .
Hirst describes in detail the effect of the Australian Natives association in the development of the idea of an Australian settlement.
