By an Act of Parliament of I885 the Federal Council was established achieving a very limited union of the Australian colonies (except New South Wales), New Zealand and Fiji. It was vested with some sovereign powers previously exercised by the British Government; these included the regulation of the relations of Australasia with the Pacific islands, the prevention of the influx of criminals, the control of fisheries in Australian waters beyond territorial limits. Some matters could be referred to the Council by any two of the colonies: defence, quarantine, patents and copyright, uniformity of weights and measures, recognition of differing colonial legislation on marriage and divorce, naturalisation and other matters of common interest with which the colonial legislatures could deal. But the Council had no executive powers, no powers to raise or spend money, and depended on the colonial governments to carry out any measures it might pass. It was but a step on the way towards federation "and passed into oblivion unhonoured and unsung" in 1899. These despatches contain replies and acknowledgements to those in GO28, of which they are the British counterpart. Subjects included are: assent to bills passed by the Council; representation of the Colony at its meetings; matters arising out of its deliberations, such as control of the pearl fisheries, of arms and liquor traffic in the Pacific, Australian representation on the Privy Council. The despatches are numbered annually under the mark "Federal Council".

These records are part of the holdings of the Tasmanian Archives