School of Historical and Philosophical Studies - Theses

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    The defences of Hobson's Bay and Port Phillip, 1870-1901
    Billett, R. S. ( 1994)
    This thesis examines the reasons behind the withdrawal of the Imperial garrison from Victoria in 1870, and the development of the defences of the colony in the period 1870-1901. These developments caused the importation of a large amount of naval and military technology into Victoria. The attitude that accompanied this transfer of technology is considered in this thesis as an impetus to the federation of the Australian colonies. The plans drawn up by Colonel Sir W. Drummond Jervois, and the development and acquisition of the armaments needed to implement his plans are also reviewed in the light of the rapid advances in arms manufacture which took place during the 1870s and 1880s. Victoria’s naval and military capacity, like that of the other self governing colonies of the Empire was recognised by the British government as a pool of reserve manpower which could be called upon to share the burden of Imperial commitments. The New South Wales contingent which hastened to the Sudan in 1885 confirmed that the colonies were able, and willing, to participate in this activity. During the 1880s the colonial military found that they were prevented from formulating plans for combined action in the event of a hostile incursion because of the constraints of their individual discipline acts. This was recognised by an Imperial officer, Major-general Sir J. Bevan Edwards during his inspection tour in 1889. His recommendations were used by Sir Henry Parkes to rekindle the federation debate. However, the centrality of Parkes’ role is questioned. The role played by the Victorian Premier, Duncan Gillies, and his Military Commandant Colonel H. S. Brownrigg, in being the first to advocate the need for combined defence is also reviewed.