Photograph of King's Colour, 16 Battalion (Goldfields Presentation 1920/1926)

With the introduction of Universal Military Training in 1911, Western Australia was divided into seven different battalion training areas numbered 83 through to 89 within the Australia wide numbering scheme. Under this scheme it was proposed that existing militia infantry regiments would provide the nucleus for the new Citizen Force units. As part of this reorganisation, effective from 1 July 1912, 1st Battalion, The Goldfields Infantry Regiment of Western Australia, became 84th Infantry (Goldfields Regiment). This designation continued to 1918, by that time reduced to three companies. Major organisational changes were made within the Citizen Forces in 1918 with the redesignation of existing units made to perpetuate the identity and traditions of the units of the AIF that had been on active service overseas during the Great War. Under these changes the 84th Infantry became redesignated as 2nd Pioneer Regiment, perpetuating 2nd Pioneer Battalion, AIF. Further changes to Citizen Forces units were made in 1921 with 2nd Pioneer Regiment becoming 16th Battalion, perpetuating the 16th Battalion, AIF. The unit had the full title 16th Battalion (The Goldfields Regiment) approved.

With the reduction of universal military training in regional areas during the mid to late 1920s the 16th Battalion (The Goldfields Regiment) ceased to be maintained as an active unit. In 1930 it was decided to preserve the identity and traditions of the 16th Battalion by linking the battalion number with the Perth-based 11th Battalion which became 11th/16th Battalion. In 1936 this battalion was unlinked to form separate battalions, with the 16th Battalion becoming a newly formed Scottish style battalion based in Perth, thus breaking its previous geographic link with the goldfields.