along with most of the riverina region, the majority of wagga wagga residents supported the federation of the australian colonies, in large part due to the prospect of free trade across colonial borders. in 1898, a group of residents promoted wagga wagga for consideration as the site of the future national capital due to its location equidistant from sydney and melbourne and its ample water supply. despite the bid's lack of success, in the 1899 referendum wagga wagga residents voted strongly in favour of federation.