By the 1880s Australians were worried about the growing presence of the Germans and the French in the Pacific . Along with a growing Australian identity , this created the opportunity to start the first inter-colonial body , the Federal Council of Australasia , in 1885 . By the 1880s , fear of the growing presence of the Germans and the French in the Pacific , coupled with a growing Australian identity , created the opportunity for establishing the first inter-colonial body , the Federal Council of Australasia , established in 1885 .