 The Australian infantry did not have regiments in the British sense , only battalions identified by ordinal number ( 1st to 60th ) . Each battalion originated from a geographical region , with men recruited from that area . New South Wales and Victoria , the most populous states , filled their own battalions ( and even whole brigades ) while the " Outer States " — Queensland , South Australia , Western Australia and Tasmania — often combined to assemble a battalion . These regional associations remained throughout the war and each battalion developed its own strong regimental identity . The pioneer battalions ( 1st to 5th , formed from March 1916 ) were also mostly recruited regionally ; however , the machine @-@ gun battalions ( 1st to 5th , formed from March 1918 from the brigade and divisional machine @-@ gun companies ) were made up of personnel from all states . 
