Our Founding Documents

Source: National Archives of Australia, Commonwealth documents, Page URL, as at 13.12.2023.
Images of the documents from the above link (protected by copyright).

Commonwealth documents
The original Australian Constitution Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1900, presented to Australia ninety years later Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK)
The original Australian Constitution Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1900, presented to Australia ninety years later

scans : cover | p1 | p2 | p3 | p4 | p5 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13 | p14 | p15 | p16 | p17 | p18 | p19 | p20 | p21 | p22 | p23 | p24 | p25
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Signed by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 9 July 1900, this beautiful document established the Commonwealth of Australia Royal Commission of Assent 9 July 1900 (UK)
Signed by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 9 July 1900, this beautiful document established the Commonwealth of Australia

scans : p1 | p2
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Read out to the crowds at the ceremony on 1 January 1901, this document founded the first office of the new nation, that of Governor-General Letters Patent constituting the office of Governor-General 29 October 1900 (UK)
Read out to the crowds at the ceremony on 1 January 1901, this document founded the first office of the new nation, that of Governor-General

scans : p1 | p2
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Last seen in 1946 ... still searching Queen Victoria’s Instructions to the Governor-General 29 October 1900 (UK)
Last seen in 1946 … still searching

scans : wanted
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
A document designed to deport 10 000 people Pacific Island Labourers Act 1901 (Cth)
A document designed to deport 10 000 people

scans : p1 | p2 | p3
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Building the walls of a White Australia that never was Immigration Restriction Act 1901 (Cth)
Building the walls of a White Australia that never was

scans : p1 | p2 | p3 | p4 | p5 | p6 | p7
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Defining who counts in our democracy – the right to vote Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 (Cth)
Defining who counts in our democracy – the right to vote

scans : cover | p1 | p2
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
An Australian first – compulsory voting becomes law Commonwealth Electoral Act 1924 (Cth)
An Australian first – compulsory voting becomes law

scans : cover | p1 | p2 | p3
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
A fair go – a win for the workers Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 (Cth)
A fair go – a win for the workers

scans : cover | p1 | p2 | p3 | p4 | p5 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13 | p14 | p15 | p16 | p17 | p18 | p19 | p20 | p21 | p22 | p23
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Who made our flag official – Queen Elizabeth II, or her great-grandfather? Flags Act 1953 (Cth)
Who made our flag official – Queen Elizabeth II, or her great-grandfather?

scans : cover | p1 | p2 | p3 | p4 | p5
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Australians gain a High Court, and lose a Prime Minister Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth)
Australians gain a High Court, and lose a Prime Minister

scans : cover | p1 | p2 | p3 | p4 | p5 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13 | p14 | p15 | p16 | p17 | p18 | p19 | p20 | p21
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
The fight for the Federal Capital Territory finished at last Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909 (Cth)
The fight for the Federal Capital Territory finished at last

scans : cover | p1 | p2 | p3 | p4 | p5 | p6
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
The only international document to shape Australia's constitutional framework Treaty of Versailles 1919 (including Covenant of the League of Nations)
The only international document to shape Australia’s constitutional framework

scans : case | cover | p9 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13 | p14 | p15 | p16 | p17 | p18 | p19 | signature1 | signature2 | signature3 | signature4 | signature5 | signature6 | signature7 | signature8 | signature9 | signature10 | signature11
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Equal in status ... and freely associated – a small step for Britain, but a large leap for the Australian people Balfour Declaration 1926 (Imperial Conference)
Equal in status … and freely associated – a small step for Britain, but a large leap for the Australian people

scans : cover | p1 | p2 | p3 | p4 | p5 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | p10 | p11 | p12
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Australian law comes of age Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 (Cth)
Australian law comes of age

scans : cover | p1 | p2 | p3
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Announcing the birth of the Australian citizen Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 (Cth)
Announcing the birth of the Australian citizen

scans : cover | p1 | p2 | p3 | p4 | p5 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13 | p14 | p15 | p16 | p17 | p18 | p19
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
A new Queen is monarch 'Of the United Kingdom, Australia and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith' Royal Style and Titles Act 1953 (Cth)
A new Queen is monarch ‘Of the United Kingdom, Australia and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith’

scans : cover | p1 | p2 | p3
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
A souvenir of the first Royal Tour of the Queen of Australia Royal Style and Titles Act 1973 (Cth)
A souvenir of the first Royal Tour of the Queen of Australia

scans : cover | p1 | p2
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Two traditions of law meet for the first time in Canberra Yirrkala bark petitions 1963 (Cth)
Two traditions of law meet for the first time in Canberra

scans : p1bark | p2bark
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Setting submarine boundaries Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 (Cth)
Setting submarine boundaries

scans : cover | provisions | p1 | p2 | p3 | p4 | p5 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Adjusting the Federation under the seas Coastal Waters (State Powers) Act 1980 (Cth)
Adjusting the Federation under the seas

scans : cover | p1 | p2 | p3 | p4
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Alone at last – old constitutional ties undone Australia Act 1986 (Cth)
Alone at last – old constitutional ties undone

scans : cover | provisions | p1 | p2 | p3 | p4 | p5 | p6 | p7
transcripts : PDF | RTF |
A glimpse into the longest document shaping the Commonwealth's first century Mabo v Queensland No. 2 1992 (Cth)
A glimpse into the longest document shaping the Commonwealth’s first century

scans : title | contents | p122
transcripts : No transcript available at this time.

 

 

Posted by Jillian