Queensland Maritime Defence Force

[Brian James]

Queensland Maritime Defence Force,Flat-Iron Gunboats HMQS Gayundah with sistership HMQS Paluma (later HMAS) pictured at Armstrong Mitchell Low Walker Shipyards at Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,September,1884....In the 1870's the British military presence in Australia had declined and the individual colonies had begun planning for their own defence.Amidst concerns about Russian influence in the Pacific, in 1884 the Queensland Maritime Defence Force was established. The same year, the colony placed an order for its first vessels: a Torpedo Boat, HMQS Mosquito, and two Gunboats, Gayundah and HMQS Paluma. Both Gayundah and Paluma belonged to a Class of Vessels that were built to a type B1 Flat-Iron Gunboat design by builders Sir W.G. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co.