On April 2, 1900, the fleet set out once again after a brief three-day rest. This time, its destination was Arthur's final stop: Australia.
Speaking of Australia, up to this point, Australia had merely been a regional designation. In reality, Australia was made up of six colonies: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania.
Although the Australian continent where these six colonies were located was a complete region with a shared culture,
Britain's various colonial problems throughout history, along with its colonial policies, had caused the unified Australia to be divided into six colonies. Each colony governed itself, and none interfered in the affairs of the others.
Since the beginning of the modern era, Australia's colonies had also faced several common problems, including tariffs, transportation, postal services, defense, and restrictions on Asian immigrants. This had forced the six colonies to begin considering a colonial conference to discuss and establish unified standards.
In November 1880, the Melbourne Colonial Conference agreed to establish a Federal Council, with the largest and most developed colony, New South Wales, drafting the Federal Council bill. This was also a sign that Australia was moving toward unity and federation.
The Federal Council was established in 1883. A year later, the colonies began asking the British Government to support the Federal Council bill.
In 1891, Australia's first political party, the Labor Party, was founded. The growth of the trade union movement broke through the boundaries the colonies had maintained for so long, and calls for free trade between the colonies and the beginning of federation grew louder and louder.
In 1893, the Federal Council held a Federal League delegates' conference in Corowa, calling on and advising the colonies to begin taking measures to prepare for the establishment of a federation.
By 1898, Australia's Federal Council had even begun preparing a referendum on the establishment of a federation. However, because the colonies had differing systems and orders, progress on the referendum remained slow.
It was not until recently, when Queen Victoria announced that Australia would become Arthur's new territory and decided to unify the six colonies into one complete Australian Duchy, that calls for unity among the colonies began to die down. Instead, they began looking forward to the new Australian Duchy.
On April 27, after more than half a month of sailing, the fleet arrived in Sydney, the capital of New South Wales.
New South Wales was Britain's earliest colony in Australia, as well as the Australian colony with the largest population and the most developed economy.
During Australia's federation process, New South Wales was also the colony with the greatest say, and it was responsible for drafting the Federal Council bill.
Judging from Australia's situation, whoever controlled New South Wales would essentially control Australia's overall situation.
The Port of Sydney was already packed with people waiting to welcome them. At the very front of the crowd stood the premiers and officials of the various colonies, packed tightly into a line. The scene was boisterous and lively.
Off to one side of the welcoming crowd, a troop of soldiers stood craning their necks in anticipation. They belonged to the armies of their respective colonies and took orders directly from the Ministry of Defense and Queen Victoria.
After the fleet slowly came ashore, the welcoming crowd immediately erupted into thunderous cheers. Following the music and ceremonial fanfare, Arthur supported Queen Victoria as they slowly stepped onto Australian soil.
"Long live Her Majesty the Queen! Long live the Duke!" The onlookers spontaneously burst into cheers, loudly welcoming the arrival of the two rulers.
Unlike at the Suez Canal and in India, Queen Victoria did not step forward. Instead, she signaled with her eyes for Arthur to go.
Arthur immediately understood. He walked forward lightly, raised his head to look at the excited crowd, and finally stopped before the six premiers.
"Your Highness, welcome home!" the six premiers said together.
Arthur froze for a moment, then suddenly understood. Australia was already his only territory, and Australia would also be Arthur's home from then on.
Unless something special happened, he would basically never return to the United Kingdom.
"You should be the premiers of the various colonies, right? How has Australia been recently?" Arthur asked with a smile.
"Yes, Your Highness. Please allow me to introduce the premiers of the various colonies." The man at the head spoke with a smile, his words carrying a hint of flattery.
"Mm." Arthur signaled for him to continue.
"Your Highness, I am Evan H. Parks, Prime Minister of New South Wales." The man continued, "These gentlemen are Walter Bligh, Premier of Victoria; Andrew King Porter, Premier of Queensland; Richard Norbert Chapman, Premier of Tasmania; Pierre Silvio Berlusconi, Premier of Western Australia; and Thomas Czech, Premier of South Australia. Upon learning of your arrival, they immediately came here from their respective regions so they could be the first to welcome you and Her Majesty the Queen."
"Mm. Were all these people also summoned by you?" Arthur asked curiously, looking at the excited crowd around him.
"Not at all, Your Highness. You may not know this, but Australia's division into six colonial branches is no longer suitable for the current situation. The differing systems among the colonies have made trade and communication between them extremely difficult, causing considerable trouble for both the colonies and their residents. The people have been looking forward to Australia's federation for a long time. This time, it is precisely because of you that Australia has a chance to unite. Thank you, Your Highness!" As Prime Minister Evan spoke, he once again bowed slightly to Arthur, his expression carrying a trace of gratitude.
"It was nothing, Prime Minister Evan. I'm also going to become a part of Australia. Isn't safeguarding Australia's unity something all Australians should do?" Arthur smiled and helped Prime Minister Evan up.
"All right, Prime Minister Evan. Take me and Her Majesty to get some rest first. The long voyage at sea has been tiring enough. Also, let these people go home. We can't let welcoming me interfere with their work and lives." Arthur smiled as he spoke.
"Yes, Your Highness. Please follow me. I've had the highest floor of the Government Building cleared out. The conditions aren't very good, so I can only ask you and Her Majesty the Queen to stay there temporarily." As he led the way, Prime Minister Evan explained apologetically to Arthur and Queen Victoria.
Before Australia had established a federation, its economy had primarily relied on selling minerals and on agriculture and fishing. Although this had improved the situation from the early colonial period, when food had to be imported from the United Kingdom, it had only been enough to keep people barely fed and clothed.
On top of that, the colonies were not connected to one another, leaving Australia's overall economy underdeveloped and its industry extremely backward. The finances of every colony were desperately strained.
Although the wealthiest colony, New South Wales, was somewhat better off, building a palace befitting Arthur's and Queen Victoria's status was still nothing more than wishful thinking.
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