Department of Home and Territories
14 November 1916 – 10 December 1928
Department responsible for the Commonwealth's territories, chiefly the Northern Territory, Papua and Norfolk Island, together with elections, immigration, census and statistics, meteorology and the Federal Capital Territory.
How it came into existence
Created on 14 November 1916 by the second Hughes ministry, combining the non-works functions of the abolished Department of Home Affairs (elections, census and statistics, meteorology, the Federal Capital Territory) with the territories and immigration functions of the abolished Department of External Affairs.
- Elections
- Census and statistics
- Meteorology
- Federal Capital Territory administration
- Northern Territory and Papua
- Immigration restriction
Changes during its life
- Administration of the former German New Guinea
Civil administration of the mandated Territory of New Guinea began on 9 May 1921 under the New Guinea Act 1920, ending military administration under Defence. A 1923 order is reported to have placed New Guinea and Nauru with the Prime Minister's Department and the Department of External Affairs, so whether this department administered New Guinea from 1921 is not confirmed.
- Local administration of the Federal Capital Territory
- Civic administration of the Federal Capital Territory
How it ended
Replaced on 10 December 1928 by a new Department of Home Affairs, which took over its domestic functions and the internal territories; under the Administrative Arrangements Order signed on 11 December 1928 its external territory functions went to the Prime Minister's Department and the Department of External Affairs.
- Northern Territory and Federal Capital Territory administration
- Elections
- Immigration
- Census and statistics
- Meteorology
- Administration of Papua and Norfolk Island
The Administrative Arrangements Order signed on 11 December 1928 (gazetted 15 December) divided the external territories between the Prime Minister's Department and the Department of External Affairs, then administered within it; New Guinea and Nauru appear already to have been handled by these two departments under a 1923 order. The order of 13 April 1932 placed all the external territories under the Prime Minister's Department.
Main functions
- Administration of the Northern Territory
- Administration of Papua and Norfolk Island
- Mandated Territory of New Guinea matters (from 1921; extent unconfirmed)
- Federal Capital Territory administration
- Elections
- Immigration restriction
- Census and statistics and meteorology
Bodies in this portfolio (7)
- Northern Territory Administration 1911–1927
- Supreme Court of the Northern Territory 1911–1927
- Administrator of the Federal Capital Territory 1912–1917
- Australian War Museum 1919–1925
- Expropriation Board 1920–1927
- Royal Commission on Norfolk Island Affairs 1926
- Royal Commission on the Edie Creek (New Guinea) Leases 1927
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Government records and websites
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.