Nationhood
Defence Act 1903
01 March 1904
The Defence Act 1903 allows for the creation of Australia’s defence forces.
When Australia was proclaimed an independent nation on 1 January 1901, professional soldiers and volunteers from the individual British colonies were in South Africa fighting in the Boer War. These colonial forces were transferred to the Commonwealth on 1 March 1901. The Defence Act 1903 provided a legal structure for the new Australian Defence Force to work under. It is still in force today.
In the first decade after Federation, the Australian Defence Force was very small. It was made up of full-time paid members (the smallest group), part-time paid members (the militia) and part-time volunteers. Its focus was on local defence. Only volunteers could serve outside of Australia until the Act was changed after the Second World War.
Light Horse School instructors, 1903
State Library of South Australia
Light Horse School instructors, 1903
State Library of South Australia
Description
A photograph of Light Horse School instructors, 1903. Photographed by W.S Smith, copied from the Adelaide Observer, November 21 1903.