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', and claimed the Bill 'would deprive you of your liberties and your employment'. 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 Adelaide on 4 June, The critic newspaper featured an illustration of the ballot box entitled 'The Glorious Fourth'. 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 late January 1899 a 'Secret Premiers' meeting' was held to review issues, and approved a number of amendments which would make the proposed constitution more acceptable to New South Wales. A second referendum was held in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and 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.

Irving, Helen, ed. The Centenary companion to Australian federation, Cambridge; Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 1999

La Nauze, JA. The making of the Australian Constitution, Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University Press, 1972. Studies in Australian federation

Russell, Roslyn and Chubb, Philip. One destiny!: the federation story, how Australia became a nation, Ringwood, Vic.: Penguin, 1998

Wicks, BM. Understanding the Australian Constitution: the plain words, Sandy Bay, Tas.: Libra Books, 1997