The Colonial Naval Defence Act 1865 and its Impact in Australia

This article examines the effect of the Colonial Naval Defence Act 1865, on the development of Australia’s naval forces. During the colonial period the Act’s part in enabling these forces to contribute not only to local defence but also to fulfilling a wider role in combination with the Royal Navy was limited. After Federation, while not a dead letter, the Act did not provide the legal basis for the creation of the Royal Australian Navy. Instead, the Commonwealth Parliament was able to rely on its own legislative powers to establish a navy.