The Department of Commerce was established by Executive Council Minute No 34 on 13 April 1932 to replace the Department of Markets [II] (CA 25). It also took over the navigation, shipping and lighthouses functions of the Department of Transport [I] (CA 26).
 
The Administrative Arrangements Order of 13 April 1932 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No 35, 14 April 1932) lists the following functions as the responsibility of the Department of Commerce:
 
   Government trade, agriculture, shipping, navigation
   Advances for purchase of wire and wire netting to settlers   
   Assisting the following organisations -
     Australian Apple and Pear Export Council
     Australian Dairy Council
     Australian Maize Council
     Australian Pig Industry Council
     Canned Fruits Control Board
     Dairy Produce Control Board
     Dried Fruits Control Board
     Dried Fruits Interstate Organisations
     Wine Overseas Marketing Board
   Australian National Travel Association
   Board of Trade
   The Provisional Commonwealth Council of State Egg Producers'     
    Organisations
 
   Collection and dissemination of Commercial and Industrial
    Information    
   Film Publicity
   Inspection, grading, packing and marketing of butter, cheese and
    other dairy produce, meat, fresh, dried and canned fruits, seeds,
    vegetables, jams, honey, etc., exported from the Commonwealth
   Lighthouses, light ships, beacons and buoys
   Navigation and shipping
   Overseas shipping freights
   Payment of bounty on wheat of the 1931-32 season
   Representation on International Exhibitions
   Rural Credit
   Trade publicity and advertising in the United Kingdom and other   
    overseas countries
   Trade representation
 
The Department administered the following Acts as at 14 April 1932:  
   
   Canned Fruits Export Control Act 1926-1930
   Canned Fruits Export Charges Act 1926-1929
   Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act 1905-1930 (Export Section)     
   Dairy Produce Control Act 1924
   Dairy Produce Export charges Act 1924-1930
   Dried Fruits Export Control Act 1924-1930
   Dried Fruits Export Charges Act 1924-1929
   Dried Fruits (Interstate Trade) Act 1928
   Export Guarantee Act 1924-1925
   Hop Pool Agreement Act 1924
   Lighthouses Act 1911-1919
   Navigation Act 1912-1926
   Seamen's Compensation Act 1911
   Wheat Bounty Act 1931
   Wine Overseas Marketing Act 1929-1903
   Wine Grape Charges Act 1929
   Wire and Wire Netting Act 1929
 
The only evidence located to date of the title of the Central Office of the Department, is secondary evidence in the Federal Guide, 1936 (p.50) which has the heading Department of Commerce, Central Staff
Organisation.  This aspect is subject to further research.
In 1940 the Department took on the administration of the Seamen's War Pensions and Allowances Act. (3)
 
Although not reflected in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the function of transport research passed to the Department of Transport [II] in 1941.  Marine matters (ie navigation shipping and lighthouses) were transferred to the newly formed Department of Supply and Shipping (CA 47) on 17 October 1942. (4)
 
On 22 December 1942 the Department of Commerce was renamed the Department of Commerce and Agriculture (CA 48).  In announcing this action the Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, said "This action has been taken because of the increasing war-time administration of agriculture and because of the Commonwealth's activity in this sphere as a vital part of the war program". (5)
 
From July 1941, J F Murphy was secretary to the new Department of Transport [II] (CA 44) in addition to his duties as Secretary to the Department of Commerce.  It appears that the Department of Transport [II] was not a separate record-keeping agency until 1943/44.  J F Murphy therefore created files relating to Transport matters in the Department of Commerce record-keeping system. (6)
 
The following Ministers of State for Commerce were appointed:  
 
13 Apr 1932 -  3 Oct 1932  : Hon C A S Hawker
 3 Oct 1932 - 13 Oct 1932  : Hon J A Lyons (CP 254)
13 Oct 1932 -  9 Nov 1934  : Hon F H Stewart (CP 228)
 9 Nov 1934 - 26 Apr 1939  : Hon E C G Page (CP 715)
26 Apr 1939 - 14 Mar 1940  : Hon G McLeay (CP 206)
14 Mar 1940 - 28 Oct 1940  : Hon A G Cameron
28 Oct 1940 -  7 Oct 1941  : Hon E C G Page (CP 715)
 7 Oct 1941 - 22 Dec 1942  : Hon W J Scully (CP 7)
 
The Secretaries to the Department were:
 
13 Apr 1932 - 16 Dec 1934  : E J Mulvaney, ISO
17 Dec 1934 - 21 Dec 1942  : J F Murphy, CMG
 
References
 
1. Commonwealth Gazette, 14 April 1932, p 548
2. Ibid
3. Commonwealth Gazette, 28 November 1940 p 238
4. Committee of Review - Civil Staffing of War-time Activities,
   Report on the Department of Supply and Shipping, 7 December 1945
5. Extract from Digest of Decisions and Announcements, No 48, 1942, p
   23 
6. See Archives accession MP13/7; CRS A601, Commerce, Commerce &   
   Agriculture Correspondence files, multiple number series, 1935    
   -1943;  and CRS A602, Commerce, Commerce & Agriculture, Register
   for Correspondence files, multiple number series.
7. Colin A Hughes and B D Graham, Australian Government and Politics
   1890-1964, Canberra, 1968, pp 17-27
Historical agency address
  1932-  1936: Subject to research 
  1936-  1942: Commonwealth Offices, East Block, Canberra ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Minute No.34 (PM's Minute No.36) of 13 April 1932.
Abolition: Executive Council Minute No.167 (PM's Minute No.45) of 22 December 1942