Until Australia became a Federation in 1901, each of the six colonies was responsible for its own defence. From 1788 until 1870 this was done with British regular forces. In all, 24 British infantry r
A company of the Victorian Mounted Rifles on manoeuvres in Victoria in 1889.
A General Chart of New Holland including New South Wales & Botany Bay with The Adjacent Countries and New Discovered Lands, published in An Historical Narrative of the Discovery of New Holland and New South Wales. (London, Fielding and Stockdale, November 1786).
A cartoon some years later of the Castle Hill convict rebellion, artist unknown, from the Australian National Library
A memorial erected by the 99th Regiment of Foot at Anglesea Barracks, Hobart, to commemorate the soldiers of the regiment killed during the New Zealand Wars. This was the first war memorial built in Australia, and is the only monument built by British soldiers in Australia to commemorate their casualties.
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia and its national interests. It consists of three services: the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian
The retirement of the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne without replacement in 1982 marked a shift away from the policy of "forward defence".
Australian soldiers lead a column of American troops during Exercise Kangaroo '89, which was held in northern Australia.
A RAAF C-130 Hercules being unloaded at Tallil Air Base, Iraq, during April 2003
Australian Army ASLAV armoured vehicles in Afghanistan during 2011