In the inter war period, the battalion was briefly reformed in 1921 as a part-time unit based initially in South Australia and then later in Tasmania.

The 50th Battalion was originally raised in Egypt on 26 February 1916, as part of the reorganisation and expansion of the AIF following the Gallipoli campaign and prior to the transfer of the Australian infantry formations to the Western Front in Europe.

During actions at Noreuil on 2 April of that year, Private Jørgen Jensen performed the deeds that led to him being awarded the Victoria Cross (VC).

A scheduled relief was cancelled and second effort was made the following morning, this time with artillery support, and this succeeded in gaining part of the Oosttaverne Line.

Advancing towards Molenaarelsthoek, the attack proved successful and subsequently held the line against a German counterattack that was broken up by defensive artillery and machine guns.

[12] Assigned to the 4th Military District, the battalion was raised as a part-time unit in South Australia, drawing personnel from the Citizen Forces' 50th Infantry Regiment.

[13] In 1930, amidst the austerity of the Great Depression and following the election of the Scullin Labor government and the subsequent suspension of the compulsory training scheme, the decision was made to amalgamate the battalion due to a decline in the numbers of volunteers.

[13][14] These battalions remained linked until 1936 when,[13] in response to fears of a possible war in Europe following the reoccupation of the Rhineland, it was decided to expand the size of the Militia.

[16] In 1966, following the reintroduction of national service, the Army authorised the re-raising of the 50th Battalion as part of the Royal Tasmania Regiment (50 RTR), as a remote area battalion within the Citizens Military Force, offering special conditions of service for national servicemen who could not meet their training requirements through normal attendance due to their occupation or place of residence.