This uniform is an example of a Pattern 1917 (P17) Australian Army Service Dress Tunic. Originally designed in the UK as a quick substitute for the P14 uniforms worn by Australian troops in France during the First World War, the P17 carried on its legacy with the Australian Army and was worn well into the late 1940's. It consists of a khaki serge wool, with for external front pockets and a hidden field dressing pocket on the inside. 

This particular example belonged to Wilfred McCready of the 2/8th Battalion during the Second World War. Although McCready enlisted in 1939 and served with the 6th Division throughout its early campaigns in North Africa and Greece, this tunic is dated 1942, after all that. More than likely, this uniform was issued to McCready as a replacement for his no doubt badly battered field tunic, which had seen active use during 2 campaigns. The tunic has no name but bares the colour patches of the 2/8th and is even showing shadows of missing rank (corporal, which he relinquished) and insignia (driving qualification, which was found in the breast pocket) that is evidence of its original owner. Furthermore, it had come from the family estate with a matching set of mess tins that had McCready's name and service number engraved on the side.