Sketch Plan Showing Proposed Federal Capital Site Near Yass and Proposed Irrigation Resvoir at Barren Jack.

Map of Yass region, showing proposed Barren Jack reservoir and proposed Federal Capital site of Yass. 

In 1899, in a last bid to save Federation, the draft Constitution was amended to include Section 125, which required the creation of a federal seat of government within New South Wales and at least 100 miles from Sydney. The battle between the federal and New South Wales governments over a suitable site for a capital continued intermittently for more than a decade. In 1899 the New South Wales Government established a royal commission to investigate possible sites for the federal capital. Many towns in New South Wales were nominated by their residents for the honour and were required to submit details as to climatic conditions, transport accessibility, physical conditions, land ownership and value, plus information on other conditions including food supply, minerals, ability to support a considerable population and conditions for commercial and industrial development. The Commissioner visited many sites and presented his report on 26 October 1900 which favoured the following areas: Orange (or Canobolas), Yass and Bombala-Eden.