Auralia: The Proposed Colony's Proposed National Animal

Auralia was a proposed colony that was proposed in the early 20th century, aiming to separate from the colony of Western Australia. However, its proposal was met with opposition, as seen in the 1930 referendum, and it never came to fruition. This article delves into the proposed national animal of Auralia, as well as the historical context surrounding this colonial proposal.

Historical Context of Auralia

Auralia, as a proposed colony in the early 20th century, was an idea that sought to separate the south-eastern portion of Western Australia. The name 'Auralia' derives from the Latin word meaning 'golden,' commemorating the gold mining industries thriving in the region during that period. The proposed division was driven by the perception that Western Australia's government, led by Sir John Forrest, was perceived as parochial and not fully supporting the federation with the emerging Commonwealth of Australia.

Key regions included in the proposed Auralia were the Goldfields, the western portion of the Nullarbor Plain, and the port town of Esperance. Kalgoorlie was proposed to be the capital of this new territory.

The Procedures of Federation and the Commonwealth Act

It is important to clarify the terminology, as Australia was not initially referred to as the Commonwealth of Australia. The term 'Australasian Colonies' was used to describe the British colonies in this region, which included territories that would later form part of Australia.

The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia Act provided specific definitions, as seen in Article 6:

6 Definitions
The Commonwealth
shall mean the Commonwealth of Australia as established under this Act.
The States
shall mean such of the colonies of New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia including the northern territory of South Australia as for the time being are parts of the Commonwealth and such colonies or territories as may be admitted into or established by the Commonwealth as States and each of such parts of the Commonwealth shall be called a State.
Original States
shall mean such States as are parts of the Commonwealth at its establishment.

The constitution was designed to form the Commonwealth of Australia, which included the territories of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the northern territory of South Australia at the time.

Proposed National Animal of Auralia

While Auralia never materialized into a separate nation, the proposed colonial government aimed to establish a national animal. If Auralia had indeed become a separate entity, the national animal would likely have reflected the unique ecosystems and wildlife of the proposed territory, much like the red kangaroo and the emu now represent Australia.

Interestingly, the namesake of the proposed Auralia can be seen in popular culture and entertainment, where it often refers to a slippery talkative lizard, a play on words with its forked tongue. However, this is purely fictional, and there is no real proposal or suggestion for a specific national animal in the historical documentation for Auralia.

Conclusion

Auralia was a proposal that never saw the light of day, reflecting the complex colonial history and the dynamic process of national identity formation in the early 20th century. The concept of Auralia provides a fascinating insight into the regional divides and political aspirations within Western Australia during that period.