The Australian Constitution created the nation that is Australia today.

More than a century ago a group of influential people sought to give the six colonies of Australia a united voice in their dealings with Great Britain. They also wanted freedom of trade and movement among them.

For almost a decade this group of prominent nationalists and leading politicians worked to create what became the Constitution. This is their story: an account of how Australia's supporters at home and in Britain worked to create the framework for the Commonwealth.

In this book you can read the full text of the Constitution, along with explanations of the most important and influential sections. It also describes how changes were made, and how Australia ultimately achieved full independence.

Without the legal framework of the Constitution, the Commonwealth of Australia as we know it would not exist.