.22Auralia.22 goldfields separation movement Secessionism in Western Australia

a map printed in 1900, accompany petition queen victoria, showing boundaries of proposed colony of auralia .

during late 19th century, wa government (like of new zealand) reluctant commit proposed federation of british colonies in australasia, , lobbied federation committees wa , other colonies. changed little granting of self-government wa in 1889 – , election of colony s first premier john forrest – meant virtual independence britain, in matters except defence, foreign affairs , trade. after discovery of gold @ coolgardie (1892) , kalgoorlie (1893), these towns @ centre of eastern goldfields , , flow of immigrants eastern colonies increased.

tensions emerged during mid-1890s between goldfields , capital city. there 3 main reasons this:

the extremely rapid growth of goldfields meant population rivalled of perth metropolitan area;
before opening of perth-kalgoorlie railway , fremantle harbour (both in 1897), goldfields residents interacted relatively little metropolitan area (i.e. people moving eastern colonies goldfields passed through deep water port of albany, took trains broomehill , travelled horse or on foot along holland s track coolgardie);
forrest s government favoured large mining companies on individual prospectors, antagonising many people in goldfields and;
many goldfields residents, due ties eastern colonies, supported federation.

in 1899, after several years of lobbying, eastern goldfields reform league compiled petition majesty queen persons residing on goldfields, refutation of statements made in petition, sir john forrest. argued case goldfields separation western australia , formation of new colony/state in goldfields, named auralia . in 1900, walter griffiths travelled london on behalf of eastern goldfields reform league executive, present petition british government , lobby colonial office either approve auralia s separation, or force western australia accept federation. however, in spite of many requests griffiths, colonial secretary, joseph chamberlain refused meet him.

nevertheless, petition put pressure western australian government join federation. forrest led push include recent immigrants east on electoral roll, ensuring referendum pass. 1 january 1901, when wa formally joined other colonies in federating states of commonwealth of australia, impetus creation of auralia waned.