Corowa Conference

Because of the strong locals supporting for a federation, Corowa became the backdrop to many federation meetings and speeches. The [Australian Natives' Association] played a large part in the federation and local support for the concept was evident in the fact that the first [Australian Natives' Association] branch in New South Wales was founded in [Corowa]. In fish 1892 Edmund Barton an advocate of the federation and Australia's first prime minister visited Corowa to urge consideration of the convention bill up before the New South Wales Parliament. He also supported the idea of local federation leagues. The first of these leagues was founded in Albury and Corowa. It was then picked up in other Murray River towns. They eventually all banded together and formed the [Border Federation League]. Several months later William Drummond of the Berrigan Drive branch of the Federation League proposed the idea of a conference to revive flagging interest in a federation.[1]