Department of Home Affairs
1 January 1901 – 14 November 1916
The original Department of Home Affairs, a wide-ranging domestic department responsible for elections, census and statistics, meteorology, Commonwealth public works and the selection and development of the federal capital.
How it came into existence
Established on 1 January 1901 as one of the seven original Departments of State, with Sir William Lyne as its first minister.
Changes during its life
- Electoral administration
- Census and statistics
- Commonwealth meteorology
Meteorology was a Home Affairs responsibility from 1901; the bureau was organised within that department after the Meteorology Act 1906 and took over the state services from 1 January 1908.
- Survey of the federal capital territory
- Federal Capital Territory administration
- Design of the federal capital
How it ended
Abolished on 14 November 1916: public works and railway construction went to the new Department of Works and Railways, and its remaining functions, including elections, census and statistics, meteorology and the Federal Capital Territory, to the new Department of Home and Territories.
- Elections
- Census and statistics
- Meteorology
- Federal Capital Territory administration
- Commonwealth public works
- Railway construction
- Rivers and water works
Main functions
- Commonwealth elections and electoral administration
- Census and statistics (from 1905)
- Meteorology (from 1908)
- Commonwealth public works and buildings
- Selection of the seat of government and administration of the Federal Capital Territory (from 1911)
- Construction of the Trans-Australian Railway
- Commonwealth lands and surveys
Bodies in this portfolio (2)
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 1 January 1901 (created it)
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 22 September 1915 (sets it out)
1 more Administrative Arrangements Order sets it out
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 4 April 1912 (sets it out)