The great Antipodean project to combine six British colonies in a single federation was launched 125 years ago at Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building.
But for a time, the ceremonial opening marking the momentous first meeting of federal parliament was set to take place at Victorian Parliament House.
On the front page of The Melbourne Herald, the masses were told there would "only be room for federal and local members of Parliament, and their wives and daughters".
"The people will be shut out," it said.
But an event as grand as the birth of a new democracy required those who gave it life, so it was relocated to the only building big enough to host the historic moment.
On May 9, 1901, the autumn sun spilled through the windows of the Royal Exhibition Building and onto 12,000 faces.
Those packed inside and the cheering crowds outside celebrated two historic firsts: the opening of the new commonwealth parliament and the first nation born from the free and peaceful vote of its people.
As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marked the milestone under the same halls on Saturday, he noted the uniquely Australian combination of practicality and egalitarianism that led to the decision.
"Federation was the people's movement. It had been given life by the people's vote," he said.
"And for the work of the new parliament to carry weight and meaning, it had to belong to the people as well. We could not start with a small room and a select few."
Australian democracy's first day heralded an everlasting Australian lesson, which Mr Albanese said showed the nation was at its best when it chose to lift people up - not shut them out.
"Every time we have followed that national instinct for unity and fairness, we have been better for it," he said.
"Every time we have broken down barriers of disadvantage or discrimination and opened up the doors of opportunity, we have been stronger and richer for it.
"And every time our people have chosen to engage with the world, indeed, to lead the world, we have all gained from it."
And that, as the prime minister said, continued to be part of our evolving national story as a world leader - the first nation to give women suffrage, a change-maker with the eight-hour day, minimum wage, Medicare and universal superannuation and a world citizen by revoking the White Australia policy.
Latin mottos, including Carpe Diem - seize the day - were painted beneath the exhibition building's dome to inspire the new parliament and the people it served.
On the 125th anniversary, Australians have once again been invited to seize the day to honour the milestone during festivities across the weekend.
A pop-up exhibit of significant items relating to the 1901 federation event will be on display, including a four-metre painting by Australian artist Charles Nuttall, unseen for 25 years.
A commemorative photograph will be created as a contemporary counterpoint to Nuttall's 1901 visual records.
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