The 5th Motor Brigade was a formation of the Australian Army during the interwar years and World War II.

[2] These regiments were spread between Warrnambool (4th), Bendigo (17th) and Ballarat (19th), and were drawn from areas previously assigned to the 6th and 7th Light Horse Brigades, which had been disbanded when Australia's part-time mounted units were re-formed as cavalry brigades.

[3][4] At this time, the force was maintained using a mix of voluntary enlistment and compulsory service.

[5] The brigade ceased to exist in October 1936,[2] due to manpower shortages following the suspension of the compulsory service scheme in the early 1930s.

[3] During the early part of World War II, the Australian Army undertook a modernisation program to motorise or mechanise its mounted forces, at which time many light horse regiments were issued vehicles and re-roled.