What caused Australia to declare Commonwealth?

Question

I can only find when Australia was declared Commonwealth, not what caused it. Your help is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Nothing "caused" it to declare Commonwealth...

but I think Elizabeth explained it very well.

Cheers

Answer 2

Federation Facts - The Federation Story

The fact was, despite the colonies having separate and independent political systems, they also had many interests and concerns in common: postal services; lighthouses; immigration; quarantine; railways; rivers; defence; and tariffs.

Some of the colonies levied customs duties on imports, including 'imports' from the other colonies.

This created barriers for the sale of goods from one colony to another, as well as causing irritation to travellers who crossed colonial borders and making fellow Australians feel that they were foreigners.

Tariffs became the source of the greatest intercolonial friction, and policy differences on tariffs were the principal dividing lines between the political parties.

Solving the intercolonial trade problem became one of the biggest challenges for advocates of Federation.

Answer 3

there was also a push for republicanism at the time, federation was seen a a fair comprimise.

Answer 4

Britan ruled us until we became a country in 1901.....the King/Queen of England has always been our leader (technically)....thats why.

Queen is represented by the Governor General.