Outline the major developments in the move towards an Australian republic in the twentieth century.

The topic of an Australian republic has been hotly debated over for many years. Although there was talk, even in the late 1900s, of Australia becoming a republic, the main push for republicanism has come in the twentieth century. After colonisation, and the first taste of responsible government, in the 18th and 19th century, Australia began its journey towards republicanism - or, at least, the idea of it - when Federation was celebrated in 1901; Australia …

…its people; slowly, cautiously (although hotly debated), discussed, then voted upon; and, regardless of the outcome, still voraciously argued for and against. Australia is a nation that has become independent of its former 'mother'. It has now formed into what we know it as today; a multicultural, tolerant society that has enormously different ways of life from what it originally began as, and no longer is - a colony, subservient to and dependent on Britain.