Campaign material comprising a sample ballot paper including instructions on how to vote on Federation Day for the proposed Federal Constitutional Bill.

During April and May 1898 the campaign for and against the Bill to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia was conducted. 'Anti-Billites' opposed the Bill as '...needlessly costly, cumbersome, and contradictory', while pro-federationists promoted the 'Yes' vote to 'advance Australia'.

Early in June 1898, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania went to the polls. In these four colonies a majority voted 'Yes' for the Constitution. However, New South Wales did not get the required number of supporting votes - it fell short of the 80,000 minimum.

In 1899, after amendments had made the proposed constitution more acceptable to New South Wales, a second referendum was held in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania; the 'Yes' vote was achieved. In September Queensland votes supported the Commonwealth Bill, and finally on 31 July 1900 a majority of Western Australians voted 'Yes'. The new Commonwealth of Australia came into being on 1 January 1901.