An Original Vellum Draft of a Bill to Constitute the Commonwealth of Australia 1898 by E G Blacmore, C C Kingston - 1898

Australia: R S Brain, Government Printer, Melbourne, 1898. First Edition . Vellum. Near Fine. Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. 1st Edition 1898 A very important and uncommon original political draft document of a Bill to Constitute the Commonwealth of Australia produced in leather vellum for a permanent record of the draft bill. This draft is the last one produced before Australia became a Commonwealth in 1900. Governments produced their laws on vellum as it will survive longer than paper but is very expensive to produce. The Constitution of Australia is the supreme law of Australia. It is a written constitution that sets down the political structure of Australia as a federation under a constitutional monarchy governed with a parliamentary system and outlines the structure and powers of the Commonwealth of Australia's three constituent parts. The Constitution was drafted between 1891 and 1898 through a series of conventions conducted by representatives of the six self-governing British colonies in Australia: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. The final draft was then approved in a set of referendums from 1898 to 1900. The British government objected to some elements of the final draft, but a slightly modified form was enacted as section 9 of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and given royal assent on 9 July 1900. This Act, also known as the covering Act, also authorised the Queen to proclaim the actual act of federation, which was done by Queen Victoria on 17 September 1900, to take effect on 1 January 1901. After this, the six colonies became states within the new federation. The original twenty nine page document . The document is in wonderful bright condition. A few pages lightly age toned. Size is Approx A4. More images can be taken upon request. Ref18208