Department of the Interior
12 April 1932 – 26 April 1939
The first Department of the Interior, a large domestic department combining administration of the Northern Territory and the federal capital with elections, immigration, meteorology, transport, Commonwealth works and railways.
How it came into existence
Created on 12 April 1932 by the Lyons government by merging the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Works and Railways and the Department of Transport; navigation, shipping and lighthouses from the Department of Transport went instead to the Department of Commerce.
- Territory administration
- Elections
- Immigration
- Meteorology
- Commonwealth works
- Commonwealth railways
- Federal aid roads
- Transport matters
Navigation, shipping and lighthouses went to the Department of Commerce.
Changes during its life
- Public works
- Lands and surveys
- Rivers
- Roads
How it ended
Replaced on 26 April 1939 by a new Department of the Interior formed by the first Menzies ministry, which also re-absorbed the Department of Works.
- Territories administration
- Elections
- Meteorology
- Immigration
Main functions
- Administration of the Northern Territory and the Federal Capital Territory (Australian Capital Territory from 1938)
- Elections
- Immigration and naturalisation
- Meteorology
- Commonwealth railways
- Commonwealth works and buildings, lands and surveys, rivers and federal aid roads (until November 1938)
- Transport matters
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 13 April 1932 (sets it out)
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.