1901

Commonwealth of Australia proclaimed on 1st January.

White Australia policy introduced.

1904

Population - 4,000,000.

1908

Canberra chosen as the site for the capital of Australia.

Introduction of the Invalid & Old Age Pensioner Act which provided Social Security benefits, excluding Aboriginal people.

1912

Introduction of the Maternity Allowance; Aboriginal people were excluded.

1914-18

World War I.

1918

Population - 5,000,000.

1919

Migration scheme for British ex-servicemen and their families introduced.

1922

Purrkuji massacre of Aboriginal people in SE Kimberley.

1929

The Great Depression.

1935

Population - 6,000,000.

1938

Australian Aborigines Conference held on 26th January.

1939-45

World War II.

1941

Child Endowment Act introduced; no endowment was paid to nomadic or dependent natives.

1947

Pact signed with the International Refugees Organisation to resettle Europeans displaced by war.

Beginning of major immigration program.

1949

Population - 8,000,000.

Commonwealth Electoral Act extended franchise to Aboriginal ex-servicemen.

1953

Northern Territory Legislative Council passed a bill giving citizenship rights to all Territory Aborigines except those in state care.

1954

First tour of Australia by a reigning sovereign, made by Queen Elizabeth II.

1956

'Permanent residence' status created to allow non-European migrants to claim citizenship and bring out their families.

1957

The Federal Council for the Advancement of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders was established.

1959

Population - 10,000,000.