ABSTRACT
Australia has one of the most road-dominated transport systems in the world, though this was not always the case. In the first half of the 20th century, extensive rail systems were developed in all cities and throughout rural areas. The constitution of the new country, formed in 1901, recognized the rail system as the glue joining the states together. However, the federal government never took full responsibility for the system and hence a unique mix of railway gauges and parochial state-based concerns were allowed to override the national interest throughout the 20th century.
