Designed for the defence of the British colony of Victoria, Gordon was ordered on 5 February 1885.

[1] The compound surface-condensing steam engine by G. E. Bayliss & Co. provided 150 indicated horsepower (110 kW), sufficient for about 15 knots (28 km/h).

[1] Gordon was armed with three 1-inch Nordenfelt guns and carried two sets of dropping gear for Whitehead torpedoes.

When the colonies of Australia were federated in 1901, Gordon became part of the Commonwealth Naval Forces.

The Royal Australian Navy was formed in 1911 and from this time she was referred to as HMAS Gordon.