Federation was scheduled to occur on 1 January 1901, but since the general election for the first Parliament of Australia was not to be held until March of that year, it was not possible to follow the conventions of the Westminster system and appoint the leader of the majority in the House of Representatives as Prime Minister.
Hopetoun, Western Australia | Hopetoun | HMVS Countess of Hopetoun | HMVS ''Countess of Hopetoun'' | Blunder |