This twenty cent piece was released by the Royal Australian
The coin was included in two sets issued throughout the year - the Queensland three coin set, and the twenty coin Centenary of Federation collection. Each set was issued in both proof and uncirculated varieties.
The penal settlement in Brisbane was established in 1825 as part of the British colony of New South Wales.(Museum of Australian Democracy, 2017) The settlement was closed in 1839 and was prepared for permanent settlement. In 1859 Queensland was established as a seperate self-governing colony. The colony developed quickly with the towns of Ipswich, Rockhampton, Maryborough, and Warwick being established in 1860 and 1861.(Queensland Government, 2017) In 1889 the premier of New South Wales, Henry Parks, proposed the creation of a united Australian government. Queensland was divided on the matter of Federation failing to participate in the Australasian Federal Conventions which drafted a final Australian Constitution. The colony's parliament only agreed to a referendum on joining the Federation after it became clear that New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia would be federating - regardless of Western Australia or Queensland's decision. The referendum was held in 1899 with the colony deciding to join the federation with the narrowest margin of any Australian colonies. On the 1st of January 1901 the new Australian federation was founded with Queensland a state.