“This soldier’s spiked helmet illustrated here was in vogue, typical of those worn by the British line regiments, and similar to those worn by the German Army in the Franco-Prussian War. The West Melbourne regiment was formerly the 1st Victorian Metropolitan Rifles, and was later to become the 1st Victorian Regiment.”

“When Queensland became a state in 1859 it organised infantry, artillery, engineers and mounted rifle regiments, supported by a small naval force. Volunteer contingents of Imperial Bushmen and Mounted Rifles from Queensland fought in the Boer War. This soldier is a gunner of the Queensland permanent artillery.”

“By 1890 the South Australian Government had organised a very efficient military force. The uniform had changed from the early days and was modelled on the lines of the British line regiments of the time, except that the colour was khaki. Martini-Henry rifles were issued to all non-commissioned ranks.”

“This soldier is fully equipped for departure to South Africa, to fight alongside members of other Australian Colonial Forces in the Boer War. It is interesting to note his slouch hat turned up on the right side, instead of today’s conventional left side. Khaki had become the accepted service colour at that time.”

“N.S.W. formed its Naval Brigade in 1861. In 1900 the N.S.W. and Victorian Governments sent Naval Brigade contingents to China to help quell the Boxer Rebellion. This rating is fully equipped for that expedition. In 1901 Australia became a Commonwealth, and naval forces, like the military, came under Federal control.”