Sir Henry
Parkes (1815-1896), regarded as the 'Father of Federation', had already
served more than fifty years in public life when he embarked on the most
ambitious political cause of his career. In 1889, Parkes dedicated himself
to uniting the separate colonies of Australia under one federal government.
By 1890, Parkes' political skill had succeeded in winning a Federation
Conference in Melbourne (attended by all Australian and New Zealand
colonies). The conference agreed a Federal Convention should meet in Sydney
the following year to draw up a constitution for a federated Australia. In
less than one year, Parkes had set the wheels in motion. Throughout the
meetings of the convention, Parkes was the figurehead and maker of
inspirational speeches.