Federation is the term used to describe the convergence of the six colonies of Australia into a single nation. This act was the result of a long struggle that had begun as early as 1842, but it wasn't until the late nineteenth century where the advantages of federation outweighed the difficulties and obstacles. These advantages included the demand for a unified national defence scheme, improved transport and communications, the ceasing of customs barriers between the colonies and the need for a common immigration policy and dealing with different postal systems.

It was advantageous to form the country of Australia, as the threat of foreign nations demanded the need for a united defence. Australia would have a much better chance of defending her soil if a unified Australian army replaced the six different colonial forces. This concern heightened during the late nineteenth century when there was much uneasiness about French...