Secessionism in Western Australia

Secessionism has been a recurring feature of WA's political landscape since shortly after European settlement in 1826. WA was the most reluctant participant in the Commonwealth of Australia. WA did not participate in the earliest federation conference. Longer-term residents of Western Australia were generally opposed to federation; however, the discovery of gold brought many immigrants from other parts of Australia . It was these residents, primarily in Kalgoorlie WA but also in Albany who voted to join the Commonwealth, and the proposal of these areas being admitted separately under the name Auralia was considered.

In a referendum in April 1933, 68% of voters voted for the state to leave the Commonwealth of Australia with the aim of returning to the British Empire as an autonomous territory. The State Government sent a delegation to Westminster , but the British Government refused to intervene and therefore no action was taken to implement this decision.