View source for Department of the Interior (1939–1972)

{{short description|Australian government department}}
{{for|the earlier department with the same name|Department of the Interior (1932–1939)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Department of the Interior
|logo =
|logo_width =
|logo_caption =
|formed = 26 April 1939<ref name="NAA CA 31">{{citation|title=CA 31: Department of the Interior [II], Central Office|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+31|publisher=National Archives of Australia|accessdate=3 December 2013}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|preceding1 = [[Department of the Interior (1932–1939)|Department of the Interior (I)]]<br />
[[Department of Works (1938–1939)|Department of Works (I)]]
|dissolved = 19 December 1972
|superseding =
|type = Department
|jurisdiction = [[Government of Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]]
|employees = 8,411 (in 1969)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107911079|title=Interior develops in size and shape|first=Bruce|last=Juddery|author-link=Bruce Juddery|newspaper=The Canberra Times|page=12|date=30 December 1969}}</ref>
|budget =
|minister1_name =
|minister1_pfo =
| chief1_name = [[Joseph Carrodus]]
| chief1_position = Secretary (1939–1949)
| chief2_name = [[Bill McLaren (public servant)|Bill McLaren]]
| chief2_position = Secretary (1949–1963)
| chief3_name = [[Richard Kingsland]]
| chief3_position = Secretary (1963–1970)
| chief4_name = [[George Warwick Smith]]
| chief4_position = Secretary (1970–1972)
| headquarters =
}}
The '''Department of the Interior''' was an [[Government of Australia|Australian government]] department that existed between April&nbsp;1939 and December&nbsp;1972. It was the second so-named Australian government department.
==Scope==
Information about the department's functions and government funding allocation could be found in the [[Machinery of government#Australian Government Administrative Arrangement Orders|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.{{sfn|ArchivesACT|1964|pp=1,8}} According to the Administrative Arrangements Order made on 30&nbsp;November&nbsp;1939, the department dealt with:<ref name="NAA CA 31"/>
*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 [[Australian Public Service|Commonwealth Public Service]] department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for the Interior.<ref name="NAA CA 31"/>
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References and further reading==
{{refbegin}}
*{{citation|title=A short history of the Department of the Interior |url=http://www.archives.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/109884/Dept_Interior_History.pdf |archivedate=11 May 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511194108/http://www.archives.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/109884/Dept_Interior_History.pdf |publisher=ArchivesACT |year=1964 |ref={{harvid|ArchivesACT|1964}} |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}
{{refend}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Department of the Interior (1939-1972)}}
[[Category:Ministries established in 1939]]
[[Category:Defunct government departments of Australia|Interior]]
[[Category:1939 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:1972 disestablishments in Australia]]
{{Australia-gov-stub}}