Our Defence Forces: The Militia, Artillery and Naval Brigade

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 newspaper The Australasian Sketcher, this wood engraving presents a formal study of three men in the uniforms of the militia, artillery and naval forces in Colonial Australia, with detailed depictions of their uniforms, helmets and weapons, and rows of mounted soldiers on horses in the background.