Henry Parkes , the Premier of New South Wales , pushed for a series of conferences in the 1890s to talk about federalism . The first one was in Melbourne in 1890 , and another , the National Australasian Convention , in Sydney in 1891 . Henry Parkes , the Premier of New South Wales , was instrumental in pushing for a series of conferences in the 1890s to discuss federalism - one in Melbourne in 1890 , and another ( the National Australasian Convention ) in Sydney in 1891 , attended by colonial leaders .