The following lists events that happened during 1901 in Australia .
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(October 2022 )
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Edmund Barton
Governors and administrators
1 January – The Constitution of Australia comes into force, as the federation of Australia is complete. John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun , is appointed as the first Governor-General , and Edmund Barton as the first Prime Minister .
1 March – Following federation naval and military forces of the States are transferred to Commonwealth control.
29 March – The first federal election is held to elect the first members of the House of Representatives and the first members of the Senate .
31 March – A national census is held, which indicates the population of Australia is 3,773,801 (excluding Indigenous Australians ).
9 May – The Parliament of Australia is opened in the Royal Exhibition Building , Melbourne .
22 May – The foundation stone for St John's Cathedral, Brisbane , is laid by The Duke of Cornwall and York (later George V ). the church celebrated 100 years of construction in 2006 and is the only gothic-style stone building under construction anywhere in the world.
3 September – The Flag of Australia and Australian Red Ensign are adopted by the Government of Australia as official flags, following a national design competition.
21 December – Construction begins on the rabbit-proof fence .
23 December – The Immigration Restriction Act 1901 comes into force, instituting the White Australia Policy .
31 December – The Roman Catholic Platform (now known as Cemetery Station No. 2) opens in Sydney , Australia 's Rookwood Cemetery .