Prior to 1942, the Commonwealth Authority responsible for the execution of Commonwealth works was the Works and Services Branch of the Department of the Interior [II] (CA 31).
 
On 26 February 1942 National Security (Allied Works) Regulations (Statutory Rules 1942, No. 88) were promulgated. These Regulations made provision for the appointment of a Director-General of Allied Works who was to have direct control of:

 (a) the carrying out of works of whatever nature required for war 
     purposes by Allied Forces in Australia;
 (b) the securing of supplies of materials, plant, tools and
     equipment for the purposes of such works;
 (c) the employment of technicians, workmen and others for the 
     purposes of such works, and the transport, accommodation and
     provisioning of such workmen and others.

In exercising his functions the Director-General could, on behalf of the Commonwealth;
 (a) make and vary contracts and agreements;
 (b) employ such persons as were necessary;
 (c) direct any contractor with the Commonwealth, or any person
     sub-contracting with such a contractor, as to the manner of
     carrying out the work for which he has contracted or
     sub-contracted;
 (d) requisition or compulsorily acquire any property (other than
     land) including exclusive rights or licences an privileges;
 (e) acquire by purchase any goods or chattels or things in action
     (including rights in relation to inventions); and
 (f) sell or otherwise dispose of or turn to account or write off
     property held in connexion with the carrying out of works.
 
On 25 February the then Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, informed the Hon E G Theodore, who was appointed Director-General of Allied Works, that Cabinet approved the establishment of an Allied Works Council to assist him in coping with the Australian-American Works Projects. The Council was to assist the Director-General and to exercise such powers as were delegated to it by him. It was not considered necessary to prescribe the functions of the Council by Regulations; the full functions of the Council were to be drawn up by the Director-General, but were to embrace the following:

 (a) the Council was to work in close collaboration with
     Commonwealth Departments and instrumentalities charged with
     responsibility for the control of manpower, materials and
     equipment;
 (b) with a view to assisting in solving manpower problems, the
     Department of Labour and National Service (CA40) was to be
     linked with the Council and the Minister for Labour and National
     Service was to appoint a Liaison Officer for the purpose;
 (c) The Council was required to co-ordinate its efforts with other
     Commonwealth authorities charged with the implementation of
     works for Australian defence purposes and to make the fullest
     use of existing government machinery for arranging contracts and
     procuring supplies.

The initial members of the Council were:
 The Hon E G Theodore, Director-General of Allied Works - Chairman
 C A Hoy, Director-General of Works, Department of the Interior  
 A nominee of the Commanding General of the United States Army Forces in Australia.

On 27 February 1942, Lieutenant-General George H Brett, Commanding Officer at the Headquarters of the United States Army Forces in Australia, notified the Prime Minister of the nomination of Lieutenant-Colonel Elvin H Heiberg of the Corps of Engineers as the United States Army representative on the Allied Works Council.

The first meeting of the Allied Works Council was held on 28 February 1942.

At the time of the establishment of the Council, the Works and Services Branch of the Department of the Interior [II] was carrying out a comprehensive programme of works for various Departments, particularly for the Departments of Navy, Army, Air, Munitions and Civil Aviation. These works and the staffs associated with them were, by agreement with the Department of the Interior [II], all placed under the direct control of the Director-General of Allied Works, and the Director-General, Works and Services Branch, Department of the Interior, was appointed Assistant Director-General of Allied Works. Thus all Commonwealth constructions activities were amalgamated under one form of administration carried on under the authority of the National Security (Allied Works) Regulations.

On 14 April 1942 the Regulations were amended by Statutory Rules 1942, No. 170. A Civil Constructional Corps (CA 681) was established under the control of the Director-General of Allied Works.

On 3 May 1943 a Civil Aliens Corps (CA 680) was established by National Security (Aliens Service) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1943, No. 108 under the control of the Director-General of Allied Works. He was given power to direct any male refugee alien or male enemy alien between the ages of 18 and 60 to serve in the Civil Aliens Corps. 

On 2 February 1945 the Department of Works [II] (CA 50) was established and on 16 February 1945 National Security (Allied Works) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1945, No. 16 were promulgated. They abolished the position of the Director-General of Allied Works and thus abolished the Allied Works Council.

Historical agency address

271 Collins Street, Melbourne

Legislation administered

Creation:  National Security (Allied Works) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1942, No. 88
Abolition: National Security (Allied Works) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1945, No. 16