Constitution and referendums

The Australian Constitution sets out the principles and guidelines for how the country is run. It can only be changed with the approval of the Australian people at a referendum.

Topics

A topic is a collection of records with interpretation and inquiry questions. Each topic is aligned to the Australian Curriculum and focuses on an aspect of Australian history.

Topic

Referendums and changing Australia’s constitution

The Australian people vote on proposed changes to the constitution at a referendum.
Topic

The 1967 referendum

In a referendum held on 27 May 1967, Australians voted to remove references in the Australian Constitution that discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Topic

The dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam

On 11 November 1975, Governor-General Sir John Kerr terminated Gough Whitlam's appointment as Prime Minister of Australia.
Topic

The Federation of Australia

Australia’s 6 British colonies became one nation on 1 January 1901.

Records

Each record focuses on a single item from the National Archives' collection. Some records contain extra information to help you interpret them.