Collection of essays on the movement towards federation in Ballarat and the nation. Poses questions for Australians as people with a sense of national consciousness in a world dominated by supranational, global forces. Central topics covered are Ballarat and the nation, nation-building versus reconstructing a colony, regional and national perspectives, and new approaches to federation history. Includes notes on contributors, select bibliography and index. Editors are academics at the Australian Studies Centre, University of Ballarat.