1901 Our Future's Past

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1901 was the year of Australia's Federation, a year that marked the birth of a new nation. For white Australians it was a time of optimism and patriotism, of certainities of race, culture and identity. Australia's destiny seemed clear - as an outpost of anglo-celtic civilisation amidst the brown and yellow hordes of Asia.

Yet beneath the celebrations that heralded Federation lay darker under-currents of bitter industrial unrest, racial fear and political divisiveness. Almost 100 years on, we can see that the hopes and fears, beliefs and prejudices that dominated Australia at the turn of the century were forces that would continue to shape our own present and future.

As the centenary of Federation draws closer, 1901 - Our Future's Past was commissioned by the National Australia Day Council. The four authors, based in the History Department of the University of Queensland, have combined their knowledge of race, gender, conflict studies, labour, community and political history with a wealth of primary resources to explore this crucial time in Australia's development. 1901 - Our Future's Past is a fascinating and insightful record of the political, social and cultural inheritance of Federation.