National Archives of Australia

Defence was one of the first functions to be passed to the new Australian Government in 1901. Until then, responsibility for defence had rested with the six colonies.

The National Archives’ holdings on defence date largely from 1901 but include some colonial records, such as those on the Boer War.

Records include :

• service records – personnel dossiers and case files
• administration – how the Commonwealth has managed the defence of Australia
• the forces – Army, Navy, Air Force
• conflicts – Boer War to Vietnam War
• films - Films by and about Australia's defence
• other defence matters – war crimes, weapons trials, disasters