General

Following a Cabinet Decision on 4 May 1948, Antarctic matters were dealt with by an Antarctic Section of the Administrative Division of the Department of External Affairs [II]. Following Public Service Board approval (granted on 31 May 1948) the Section became the Antarctic Division. The Public Service Board notified the Department of External Affairs [II] of the approval of the department's proposal to up-grade the section to a division because of the distinct nature of the work compared with other parts of the department.

In December 1948 it was proposed that a new office of Assistant Officer-in-Charge (Scientific) be created in the Antarctic Division. This position was approved on 11 January 1949 and Phillip Garth Law was appointed to the position as from 1 February 1949 (2). Law had been carrying out his duties in the Division prior to this date as Acting Officer-in-Charge, from 4 January 1949 (3).

The Antarctic Division was established to administer affairs connected with the exploration, development, etc of the Australian Antarctic Territory. The Antarctic Treaty Act 1960, Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933, Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954-63, and Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953-63 are administered by the department responsible for the Division.

In 1971 the functions of the Antarctic Division were published as:
1. General administration and logistic support of ANARE. This involves the establishment and maintenance of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations, the mounting of annual expeditions to Antarctica, and the co-ordination of activities of the various agencies which make up ANARE. Among these are the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics and the Division of National Mapping of the Department of National Development; the Bureau of Meteorology, including the Ionospheric Prediction Service, of the Department of the Interior; several sections of CSIRO and University departments; and the Department of the Army.
2. Research programmes in cosmic ray and upper atmosphere physics, glaciology, biology and aspects of medical science relevant to Antarctic conditions".

The functions of the Division have also been described in the following terms:
"The Antarctic Division Headquarters provide the base from which all expeditions proceed. It maintains the expeditions in the field on a continuing basis and ensures their support. The Division is responsible for research, engineering, recruiting, training, and logistic and administrative support. It provides communication and photographic services".

The Division was administratively responsible to the Departments of External Affairs, Supply and Science while victualling and shipping was provided by Department of the Navy until 18 December 1964 when the Division took over the victualling function.

The RAAF has also participated in flying operations in the Antarctic in 1947, 1953-1954 and 1956-1959. In 1960 because of military commitments of the Air Force, civil aviation replaced RAAF on ANARE expeditions with RAAF commitments finally phased out in 1962-1963. On 1 May 1968 the Antarctic Division was transferred from the Department of External Affairs to Department of Supply (PSB certificate 1968/238 of 1 May 1968), although the transfer was not formally affected until the Executive Council approved the change on 7 June 1968 (Executive Council Minute No 26 (PM's No 23) of 7 June 1968) and notified in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 55 of 20 June 1968 (p 3370).

During the 1971/72 financial year, staff totalled 170, including 80 stationed in Antarctica and at Macquarie Island. As at 21 December 1972, the Division was headed by a Director who was assisted by a Deputy Director and one Assistant Director (Scientific). The latter oversees scientific instrumentation (including computing, electronics and instrumentation); upper atmosphere physics, cosmic ray physics, glaciology; biology, medical sciences, publications, liaison with universities and liaison with other government scientific authorities.

The Deputy Director supervises mechanical and electrical engineering (covering drafting, buildings, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, field equipment and clothing and development engineering); radio engineering and traffic; secretarial functions; and administration (including supply, procurement, stores, accounts and personnel and office services covering pay, conditions of service and recruitment).

As at 30 June 1973 the establishment of the Antarctic Division was 226 with 162 positions actually filled. The Division consisted of the following branches - Scientific, Engineering and Logistics, Administration and the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Stations (4).

At the establishment of the Antarctic Section, Group CaptainSAC Campbell was made Senior Officer-in-Charge. On 1 January 1949 he was succeeded by Dr P G Law successively in the capacities of Assistant Officer-in-Charge (Scientific), Acting Officer-in-Charge and Director (from 1 July 1955) until his retirement on 18 May 1968. Dr Law was succeeded by Mr D Styles as Acting Director until September 1970, by Mr R Rofe (1970-1971), Dr R I Garrod (appointed 8 June 1972-1978); Mr C G McCue (c 1979-1984); Mr J E Bleasel (1984- June 1989). The current irector (from June 1989) is Mr R L Moncur.

The Headquarters of the Antarctic Division are located in Kingston, Tasmania and they were officially opened by HRH Prince Charles on 22 April 1981.

On 3 December 2007, the Australian Antarctic Division became a division of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

At this time, the activities of the Division were defined as:
- administering the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands;
- conducting research in high priority areas of Antarctic science;
- coordinating and managing Australia’s logistic program in Antarctica;
- promoting Antarctic research in universities through grants and the provision of logistic support;
- developing policy proposals and providing advice on Australia's Antarctic interests;
- promoting Australia's Antarctic interests within the Antarctic Treaty System;
- maintaining a continuing presence in the region through permanent stations, the establishment of field bases and the provision of transport, communication and medical services;and
- acting as the primary source of Australian Antarctic information.

References

1. CA 197, Public Service Board. Correspondence files A series, 1924- 1950 CRS A447, item A1947/2251 "Australian Antarctic Expedition'
2. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 33, 12 May 1949, p 1223
3. Australian Archives Accession MP1002/1
4. Department of Science Report for the Period 20 December 1972 to 30 June 1973
5. Australian Antarctic Division website, http://www.antarctica.gov.au/, accessed 24 August 2010

Historical agency address

1947 : 225 Domain Road, South Yarra, Melbourne
1947-1948: "S" Block, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne
1948-1951: "J" Block, Albert Park Barracks, Melbourne
1951-1963: 187 Collins Street, Melbourne
1963-1981: 568 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
1981- : Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas

Legislation administered

Creation: Executive Council Meeting No. 56 (External Affairs Minute No. 6) of 11 January 1949

Previous agency unregistered

   Jan 1966: Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions
             (ANARE), Executive Planning Committee, 1947-1966 
01 Jan 1949: Antarctic Section, Department of External Affairs [II],
             1948-1949