Each of these medals had a similar design, but was inscribed with the name of the colony on its reverse and had its own distinct ribbon.

After the 1901 Federation of Australia, these medals were replaced by a common Australian version, first awarded in 1903.

The medal is suspended from a crimson ribbon with two central dark green stripes.

Australian forces were awarded approximately 1,222[5] Meritorious Service Medals on this basis, including 32 for gallantry.

[1] Awards made for gallantry or valuable service were of the standard British type, without the words 'COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA' on the reverse, and with a crimson ribbon with a narrow white stripe at each edge and in the centre.