In 1884 Sir William Clarke, a wealthy landowner of Sunbury, Victoria, aware of the apparent threat of a Russian invasion and concerned for the defence of the colony of Victoria, purchased three Nordenfeldt 10-barrel machine-guns and set up and paid the upkeep of, a small horse artillery battery under the command of his son Rupert. The unit was officially designated the "Nordenfeldt Battery”.

Another wealthy pastoralist, Andrew Chirnside, agreed to contribute to the cost of raising and maintaining a half-battery of horse artillery at Werribee in 1889, of which his son Percy took command. This became known as the Werribee Half Battery.

In March 1889 the Nordenfeldt Half Battery was re-equipped with old 12 pounder RML (Armstrong) guns and with the Werribee Half Battery became a Battery of the Victoria Horse Artillery. The unit was divided into two Half Batteries, the left half battery at Werribee Park and the right half battery at Rupertswood.

The Werribee half battery disbanded two years later and the Rupertswood Battery became the pride of the colony, growing both in stature and experience. The Battery was disbanded in 1897, following the death of Sir William, and two of its four Armstrong guns were presented to Lady Clarke in honour of her husband’s contributions to the Colonies defence.

Sir William’s daughter Priscilla brought one of the guns to Deniliquin with her when she married David Landale, and it remained at Dahwilly Station until 1986. At that time the Royal Australian Artillery became aware of the existence of the gun, one of only four remaining, and arranged for its restoration at the Army Apprentice School. Restoration work was begun in August 1988 by staff and apprentices and many units including the dental unit who cleaned the gun’s sights.