Department of the Interior (1939–72)

The Department of the Interior was an Australian government department that existed between April 1939 and December 1972. It was the second so-named Australian Government department.

For the earlier department with the same name, see Department of the Interior (1932–39).
Department of the Interior
Department overview
Formed26 April 1939[1]
Preceding Department
Dissolved19 December 1972
JurisdictionCommonwealth of Australia
Employees8,411 (in 1969)[2]
Department executives

Scope

Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the Department's annual reports.

The department was diverse and dealt with a broad range of activities.[3] According to the Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) made on 30 November 1939, the Department dealt with:[1]

  • Aliens - registration of
  • Ashmore and Cartier Islands
  • Assisted Migration
  • Astronomy
  • Australian Capital Territory - administration of
  • Australian War Memorial
  • Conveyance of Members of Parliament and others
  • Co-ordination of Australian Transport Services
  • Elections and franchise
  • Emigration of children and aboriginals
  • Forestry
  • Geodesy
  • Immigration
  • Indentured Coloured labour
  • Lands and Surveys
  • Maintenance and operation of electric light, water and sewerage services in the Australian Capital Territory
  • Meteorology
  • Naturalisation
  • Northern Territory
  • Oil Investigation and prospecting
  • Passports
  • Preparation of design and execution of all Commonwealth Architectural and Engineering Works in the States, Northern Territory and ACT including works for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia
  • Properties transferred, rented or acquired
  • Public Works and Services
  • Prospecting for precious metals (assistance for)
  • Railways
  • River Murray Waters Commission
  • Rivers, roads and bridges
  • Solar observatory

Structure

The Department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for the Interior.[1]

Notes
  1. CA 31: Department of the Interior [II], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 3 December 2013
  2. Juddery, Bruce (30 December 1969). "Interior develops in size and shape". The Canberra Times. p. 12.
  3. ArchivesACT 1964, pp. 1,8.

References and further reading


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