The Colonial Rifle Volunteers of Australia

The Australian Colonial Military forces were maintained from December 1788 until March 1901 when they were transferred to Commonwealth government control, after Federation. Initially, they were composed primarily of citizen soldiers rather than professionally trained, full-time soldiers. Colonial military reforms in the 1870s resulted in the expansion of permanent forces to include artillery and engineer units. By 1885, Australia's colonial military forces numbered almost 21,000 men. Over the rest of the century the volunteer forces became more organised, with training led by professional soldiers. In addition, each of the states had their own volunteer forces and naval contingents. The Victorian Colonial Military operated between 1854 and 1901, and began with the first unit formed, the Melbourne Volunteer Rifle Regiment. By 1860 a volunteer force of 10,000 was approved. The volunteer system was replaced with a permanent (paid, full-time soldiers) and militia (paid, part-time soldiers) system in 1884. Originally appearing in the Illustrated London News, this wood engraving depicts two portraits of men in the khaki uniforms of the Victoria Mounted Rifles, members of the Colonial Rifle volunteers.