Series consists of one leather-covered volume containing minutes of the Local Defence Council and Local Defence Committee meetings in South Australia, held between 11 June 1894 and 25 November 1901.

A Defence Council for South Australia was appointed in 1889 and abolished in 1894 after holding two meetings. Following a recommendation made by the Military Commandant, Colonel Joseph M Gordon, in his half-yearly report of 1892/93, a Local Defence Committee was formed in 1894 to replace it. This Committee remained in existence until the defence function was taken over by the Commonwealth government following Federation in 1901.

The minutes are mostly hand written but also incorporate printed copies of some documents, including the 'Defence scheme of South Australia'. A type script precis of the series' contents was produced by the Defence Regional Office (SA) in 1980, and is included with the volume.