HISTORICALLY, the odds are stacked against such referendum proposals passing. Of the 42 proposals since Federation in 1901, only eight have passed. Five won a majority of votes but failed as they did not secure a majority of the six states. The largest majority was 90.8 per cent for the 1967 question which led to Aborigines getting full rights and the vote.

More than 12 million Australians will vote, as voting is compulsory and failure to do so carries a fine of about £20.

The busiest polling booth is in London, where 20,000 expatriates are expected to vote. A spokesman for the Australian Republican Movement said a straw poll there suggested the votes were going 4:1 in favour of a yes vote. The 72-page information booklet sent to every household was Australia's largest print job, using 1,500 tonnes of paper.

The first polls close on the Australian east coast at 7 a.m., Irish time, on Saturday, November 6th. The first results and a trend could be evident within half an hour. The Australian Electoral Commission will have an Internet tally room at: referendum.aec.gov.au.