ANA Members Involved in the Federation Movement

Alfred Deakin	James Hume-Cook	Isaac Alfred Issacs	Alexander Peacock	James Liddell Purves	John Quick
Charles Carty Salmon	R. F. Toutcher	George Turner	George Wise	Edmund Barton	Henry Parkes

Alfred Deakin was a life member of the Prahran Branch of the Australian Natives' Association, and although he never took a position of leadership in the Association, he worked closely with it in the quest for Federation. He was regarded within the ANA and Victoria generally as the leader of the Federal movement in the State.

In 1856 Deakin was born in Collingwood, and after attending Melbourne Grammar School he went to Melbourne University, becoming a barrister in 1878. Deakin worked as a journalist for the Age and the Leader before being elected to Parliament to represent West Bourke, then Essendon.

From 1883 to 1890 Deakin held office in coalition governments, was joint leader of the government in 1886, and Solicitor-General in 1890. He joined the Prahran Branch of the ANA on its formation in 1884, and was always an active member, continually promoting the cause of Federation. He was seen as a representative figure within the Association, being young, capable, Australian-born, and a wonderful public speaker and spokesman for the ideals which the ANA. espoused.

Deakin was a member of the Federal Convention of 1891, and one of the ten elected Victorian delegates to the Convention of 1897-98, where he served on the Constitutional Committee. However his most important role in Federation was his participation in the popular campaign. As well as being President of the ANA Metropolitan Federation Conference, Deakin spoke widely at gatherings and meetings, many of which were conducted by the ANA, and his rousing and inspiring speech at the ANA Annual Conference at Bendigo is well known, and considered by some to be a turning point in the campaign.

After the passage of the Commonwealth Bill in the State Parliaments, the Bill had to be approved by the British Parliament. Deakin was a member of the delegation sent to London to secure the passage of the legislation, and in this capacity became one of the first truly Australian statesmen.

Deakin became Attorney-General and Leader of the House in the first Federal Government under Edmund Barton, representing Ballarat-a seat which he had held until 19.13. When Barton retired to the High Court, Deakin succeeded him as Prime Minister. His book The Federal Story, edited posthumously by Herbert Brookes and published in 1944 is one of the few contemporary accounts of the Federation years, and historians have relied heavily on Deakin's reports and observations.

James Hume-Cook was well known in the Australian Natives' Association, as he served on the Board of Directors for 48 years -38 years as Treasurer.

Hume-Cook was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1866. He became a member of the Legislative Assembly for East Bourke Boroughs in 1894, he was a member of the House of Representatives in the first Federal Parliament, and Minister for Defence.

Hume-Cook was Chief President of the ANA in 1896, during the exciting times of the federal campaign. He is remembered as a raconteur, as well as a writer of pamphlets, a history of the ANA and several published works including Australian Fairy Tales and Tales of the Dandenongs.

Isaac Isaacs was born in Melbourne in 1855, and educated at Beechworth Grammar School and Melbourne University. He graduated in Law, becoming a Queen's Counsellor in 1899.

Isaacs was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly 1892-1901, and Attorney-General in the Turner Ministry. In 1897 he was an elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention, but was not selected for the Drafting Committee- Deakin reports that there may have been a plot to exclude him because he had aroused the antagonism of delegates by his arrogance and conceit of superior learning. This was unfortunate because he was a brilliant constitutional lawyer, and many of the objections he raised in debate were later shown to be real problems in the Constitution.

At the Bendigo Annual Conference of the ANA Isaacs made a speech appealing for caution and restraint, in the hope that a better Constitution could be attained. He was a member of the Prahran Branch of the Association, though he never assumed active leadership. Isaacs was a man whom Deakin found to be respected rather than liked, but very learned, able, ambitious and with great power of recall.

Isaacs became Chief Justice in 1930, before being appointed as Australia's first native-born Governor-General - an appointment which aroused considerable criticism. Isaacs, however, held the position with great distinction. He retained his interest in constitutional issues, and wrote and spoke widely on the subject - at meetings of the Prahran Branch of the ANA, and many other forums.

Alexander Peacock was born in Creswick in 1861. Educated at Creswick Grammar School, he became assistant teacher before joining the local office of a legal manager of mining companies. He went on to establish his own business and eventually became legal manager to 50 companies.

In 1882 Peacock joined the Creswick Branch of the ANA, where he became Branch Secretary, and in 1884 he joined the Board of Directors, being elected to the esteemed position of Chief President in 1885, at the age of 24. He held this position for three terms - 1885, 1886, 1893 - and during his term of office the Association grew in strength, impelled by the enthusiastic and good-humoured way in which he fulfilled his role. Consequently between 1885 and 1887 three lapsed branches revived and 25 new ones were formed.

Peacock was elected to the Legislative Assembly, representing Clunes and Allandale in 1889. He held several important portfolios in the ministry including Minister of Public Instruction before becoming Premier and Treasurer 1901-02. He worked diligently in the fields of social legislation and education in Victoria, earning the title of "Father of Factory Legislation in Victoria" after his Factory Act of 1896 introduced a wages board system.

A member of the National Convention of the Commonwealth Constitution 1897-98, he served on the Judiciary Committee, without being prominent in debate. Peacock was later in a dilemma when his colleagues in cabinet and the powerful Age were determined to defeat the draft constitution. An appeal was made to him by a small group of Parliamentarians, most of whom were members of the ANA (Hume-Cook, Salmon and Toutcher being amongst them) after which Peacock declared his unequivocal support for the Bill, and the opposition began to waver.

Peacock had a friendly, jovial disposition, with a hearty laugh for which he was famous.

James Liddell Purves was one of the more colourful figures in the ANA. He was born in Melbourne in 1843, attended several schools, then was sent to Europe to complete h is education. After travelling widely on the Continent he returned to Melbourne, where in 1865 he was admitted to the Bar.

Purves rose to a foremost place in his profession. He was noted for cross- examination of witnesses, in which he displayed his brilliant mind and sharp wit, and he became famous for the cases he conducted. He was a superb speaker, and though according to Deakin he lacked ambition and concentration, he excelled in debate in the Legislative Assembly, where he represented Mornington 1872-80.

Purves was an early member of the ANA., which he joined in 1872, being elected Chief President 1888-90, a term which was not without turbulence in the ANA. but which promoted the Image and importance of the Association within Victoria. Purves came to be known as "The Emperor" within the ANA, and he certainly inspired members by his stirring and effective speeches.

Although not a member of the Federal Convention of 1897, Purves used his gifts of speechmaking and persuasion in the campaign before the referendum, speaking at many meetings organised by the ANA.

John Quick was not a native-born Australian, but came to Australia from Cornwall in 1854 at the age of 2 years, settling with his family at the goldfields town of Bendigo. Shortly after their arrival, John's father died of "colonial" (typhoid) fever, leaving his widow and son to struggle for their livelihood. After scant education, John went to work at Jopplings Ironworks, at the age of 10. The work was arduous and his long day began at 6 a.m., but he managed to find time to study and improve h is education, thereby obtaining a position as junior reporter on the Bendigo Independent. He continued his studies, graduating as a Bachelor of Law at Melbourne University in 1877.

Quick became leader of the Parliamentary staff of the Melbourne Age, before being elected to Parliament in 1880 to the seat of Sandhurst (Bendigo) which he held for nine years. After the loss of his Parliamentary seat, Quick concentrated on his legal practice in Bendigo and strengthened his associations with the ANA in its quest for Federation, which was an issue dear to his heart. He had joined the Association in 1880 at Bendigo when "virtual" natives were accepted.

Quick was one of the representatives sent by the Sandhurst Branch of the ANA. to the Corowa Conference of 1893, where he made a major contribution in his advocacy of an Australian Federation League, and by his suggestion and subsequent drafting of an Enabling Bill.

His resolution was accepted by the Conference, and ultimately with some modifications became the accepted basis on which the Federal Convention of 1897-98 was summoned. It provided a simple, democratic and practical means of overcoming difficulties and deadlocks in the path to federation, and with the increased support of the ANA behind Dr Quick a new enthusiasm was awakened in Victoria. In 1897 Dr Quick wrote in the ANA's Advance Australia:

"The question is whether there is to be a continuation and intensification of our separate existence as separate colonies, under which there will be antagonism, isolation, parochialism, and belligerency, with all the frightful family of evils flowing therefrom; or whether there is to be an integration and union into one people with one destiny. There can be no reasonable doubt about the magnitude of the issue, and the supreme importance and fate-begetting character of the alternative.

One will lead to national decay and ruin! the other, as sure as the dawning sun dispels the mists and gloom of night, will lead on to national life and national immortality. Well then may we say in warning tones, at the critical juncture and awe-inspiring moment of our history, 'Unite, and live'; 'Divide, and perish'. The shadow on the dial swiftly moves towards the fateful hour. Australians! quit yourselves as men, and prove yourselves worthy of your heritage!".

John Quick was selected as one of Victoria's ten representatives to the Convention in Adelaide to draft a Commonwealth Bill, and there he added his formidable skills in debate and drafting of legislation to the general discussions. His ability to present complex issues in simple terms was illustrated in an explanation of the official text of the Federation Bill, written by Quick and published in the Argus of6 Apri11898, for the enlightenment of all electors.

He was elected to represent the constituency of Bendigo at the first Federal Parliament, receiving a knighthood at the opening ceremony. He played an active role in politics until his defeat in 1911, and in 1922 was appointed Deputy President of the Federal Arbitration Court.

Sir John Quick published a number of works which became widely used for reference and practice in judicial procedure, including, with Robert Garran, The Annotated Constitution of the Australian Commonwealth, which is a standard and widely quoted work.

Quick acknowledged the role of the ANA as part of his successful endeavours for Federation:

"It will be noticed that in four successive years-1893, Corowa; 1894, Sydney; 1895, Brisbane; 1896, Bathurst, I represented either the Bendigo branch of the Australian Natives' Association or the Bendigo branch of the Federation League in historic Federal missions which gave me valuable opportunities of promoting the cause of Australian union. I shall never forget what I owe to the confidence thus reposed in me by the Bendigo branch of the ANA and the Bendigo branch of the Federation League."

Dr Charles Carty Salmon was another Chief President during this exciting period in the history of the Australian Natives' Association.

Salmon was born in 1861, educated at Scotch College, Melbourne University then Medical School, Edinburgh. He joined the Prahran Branch in 1894 and the Board of Directors in 1895, becoming President of the Association in 1898, when he was also Chairman of the Platform Committee in connection with the Australian Federal movement. Salmon was a member of the Legislative Assembly 1893-1901, representing Talbot and Avoca, and became Minister for Education. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the Federal Parliament 1901-13, and Speaker of the House 1909-10.

Salmon was an enthusiastic speaker for Federation, addressing 43 meetings in the campaign before the first Referendum. He also published works promoting federation, including the preface to the ANA Manifesto on the Constitution and a number of articles in Advance Australia, where he wrote the following, in prose typical of the age:

"The close of the century should see the infant Australian nation, like another Hercules, strangling the serpents Provincialism and Jealousy, amidst the plaudits and approbation of every civilized race.

"The sun of Federation will rise and spread his life-giving beams over our beloved Australia, and a new era of prosperity will open for the freest people of the earth under the freest Constitution that the hearts and brains of the patriots ever devised."

R. F. Toutcher was an enthusiastic campaigner for Federation, and became widely known for his speeches.

Toutcher was a member of the Elsternwick Branch of the ANA. He was on the Board of Directors from 1894 to 1913, Honorary Secretary of the ANA Metropolitan Federation Conference and was presiding Chief President at the historic Annual Conference at Bendigo. A member of the Legislative Assembly, Toutcher served as Minister for Education.

Toutcher threw himself into the campaign for Federation with great vigour, and even within the ranks of the ANA he was noted for his ardent speeches, as the following extract from a poem, published in Advance Australia, March 1898 shows:

George Turner was Premier of Victoria during the important years leading up to Federation, and played a significant role in the events which took place.

Born in Melbourne in 1851 and educated at the Model School and Melbourne University, Turner was admitted as solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1881.

Turner joined the ANA in 1872, holding the position of Treasurer of the Melbourne Branch until 1881, later joining the St Kilda Branch. He became Mayor of St Kilda in 1888, then was elected to represent that City in the Legislative in 1889.

After holding ministerial positions in the Munro and Sheils Ministries, Turner became Premier and Treasurer in 1894, when he began to introduce measures to ease the recession. Turner was a member of the National Convention of 1897-98 to frame the constitution, serving on the Finance Committee. His ministry later wavered in its support for the Constitution Bill, under pressure from the Age and David Syme, but decided to support the Bill on realizing the extent of public opinion in its favour.

Turner resigned from the Victorian Parliament to enter the Federal scene. He was elected as member for Balaclava, becoming Treasurer in the first Federal Parliament under Barton, and retaining the position under Deakin and Reid- McLean. He retired from politics in 1906.

We are indebted to Deakin for a glimpse of the personality of George Turner, whom he shows as an average, self-made man, trustworthy and capable, with great capacity for work and great attention to detail, whose whole life was devoted to his legal practice and to politics. Deakin saw Turner as a plain speaker, lacking his own fire and sparkle in debate, but able to put forward complicated ideas clearly. Within the federal movement he worked conscientiously to achieve the best Constitution in the interests of Victoria.

An illustration of his rational and lucid style can be seen in the following extract from Advance Australia, July 1899, before the second referendum, when he sought to influence voters in favour of the draft constitution:

"No constitution in the world is more liberal or democratic than that proposed; none can be better said to be 'broad based upon her people's will'; none better conserves the interests of the several States; none is more elastic or more suited to the ever-changing requirements of a young and growing community. It frees us from provincialism and leads us to an expanded national life; it ensures to us free trade throughout Australia, a common market for our produce, and protection against the rest of the world."

George Wise was born in Melbourne in 1853 and educated at Scotch College. A barrister and solicitor, Wise was a member of the Sale Borough Council 1880- 1904, and six times Mayor; he then became the member for Gippsland in the House of Representatives 1906-22. In 1920 he became Post-Master General of Australia.

Wise was a member of the Sale Branch of the ANA, elected to the Board of Directors in 1887, where he served for 59 years. He became Chief President in 1887, and he took a leading part in the campaign for federation from that time. He has always been highly regarded within the Association, as the following tribute i n 1921 shows:

"In other spheres he has done well, as the public position he now occupies testifies, but it is questionable whether in any assembly he has made such an impression upon his fellow countrymen by the manner in which he has addressed himself to and handled public questions of the highest importance as at the Annual Conference of this organisation. It is bare justice, therefore, that...acknowledgement should be made of his work. The ANA can never forget his eminent services."

BARTON, (Sir) Edmund (1849-1930)
Born in Glebe, Sydney, on 18 January 1849, Barton was Australia’s first Prime Minister (1901-1903). He became a barrister before entering the New South Wales Parliament and was chosen as one of the NSW delegates to the 1891 Federation Convention, where he was involved in the drafting of the 1891 Constitution Bill. Barton was a leader of the Australasian Federation League, established in 1893, and he devoted his public life to the campaign for Federation. He was elected Leader of the 1897-98 Constitutional Convention and subsequently campaigned extensively for a ‘YES’ vote in the Federal Referenda in NSW. Barton was a member of the Waratah Branch of the ANA and was made a Life Honorary Member in January 1903.

Parkes came to Australia from England in 1839 and was active in New South Wales politics until his death in 1896. He had resisted overtures from the other colonies to join the Federal Council in 1885 but was still keen on the idea of Federation, partly as a means of bringing glory to himself. His Tenterfield Oration in 1889 paved the way for the 1891 Federal Convention, which he hosted in Sydney. The draft Constitution Bill which resulted, failed to gain immediate acceptance in the colonial parliaments and Parkes’ political role was overtaken by George Reid and Edmund Barton. Parkes’ initial work for Federation however has lead to him being popularly recognised as the ‘Father of Federation.’

Sources: 
Johnson J (1984), "One Nation with One Destiny": The role of the Australian Natives' Association in the Federation of Australia, ANA, Melbourne.
The Centenary Companion to Australian Federation edited by Helen Irving. Cambridge University Press, 1999