Department of the Interior
26 April 1939 – 19 December 1972
Department of State responsible for a broad range of domestic Commonwealth matters: the Australian Capital Territory and for most of its life the Northern Territory, elections, meteorology, lands, surveys and property, and in its early years immigration and Commonwealth works.
How it came into existence
Created on 26 April 1939 by the Administrative Arrangements Order made for the first Menzies ministry, replacing the Department of the Interior (1932) and re-absorbing the Department of Works (1938), so that works, lands and surveys returned to the Interior portfolio.
- Territories administration
- Elections
- Meteorology
- Immigration
- Commonwealth works
- Lands and surveys
Changes during its life
- Civil defence
- Australian News and Information Bureau
- Documentary film production
- Administration of the Northern Territory
- Commonwealth Railways
Transfer of the Commonwealth Railways from the Interior portfolio in 1941 inferred, not confirmed from a source.
- Commonwealth works and services
- Immigration
- Passports
- Naturalisation and aliens registration
- Forestry and timber (Forestry and Timber Bureau)
The Forestry and Timber Bureau came into this portfolio on 16 March 1950; that it came from the Interior portfolio, where the Commonwealth Forestry Bureau had been, is assumed rather than confirmed.
- Administration of the Northern Territory
- Aboriginal affairs in the Northern Territory
- Civil defence
- National mapping (National Mapping Office, becoming the Division of National Mapping)
Year approximate.
- Planning and development of Canberra
- Electricity supply in the ACT
- Education in the Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay
- Botanic gardens development on Black Mountain
How it ended
Abolished on 19 December 1972 by the Whitlam government. Its functions were divided among new departments, including the Department of the Capital Territory, the Department of the Northern Territory, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and the Department of Services and Property; the Bureau of Meteorology went to the Department of Science and the News and Information Bureau and Commonwealth Film Unit to the Department of the Media.
- Responsibility for Aboriginal affairs in the Northern Territory
The Welfare Branch itself passed with the Northern Territory Administration to the Department of the Northern Territory in December 1972; its Aboriginal functions followed to this department during 1973.
- Bureau of Meteorology
- Commonwealth property and land acquisition
- Office accommodation
- Surveying
- Electoral administration
- Administration of the Australian Capital Territory
- Jervis Bay Territory
- ACT lands and leasing
- Government publicity and information (News and Information Bureau)
- Documentary film production (Commonwealth Film Unit)
The Commonwealth Film Unit was part of the News and Information Bureau; Wikipedia's summary of the AAO attributes the film functions as a whole to the Department of the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts.
- Administration of the Northern Territory
Main functions
- Administration of the Australian Capital Territory
- Administration of the Northern Territory (1939–1951 and 1968–1972)
- Commonwealth elections (Chief Electoral Office)
- Meteorology (Bureau of Meteorology)
- Lands, surveys and Commonwealth property
- Immigration (to 1945) and Commonwealth works (to 1945)
- Civil defence (from 1946)
- Government news and information services (from 1950)
Bodies in this portfolio (6)
- Aboriginals Department 1911–1939
- Commonwealth Solar Observatory 1924–1945
- Commonwealth Forestry Bureau 1925–1946
- National Capital Planning and Development Committee 1938–1958
- Allied Works Council 1942–1945
- Commonwealth Observatory 1945–1957
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 16 November 1950 (sets it out)
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 19 December 1972 (took effect as it ended)
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.