On 30 November 1973 the name of the Department of Works [III] (CA 61) was changed to the Department of Housing and Construction [I] and elements of the former Department of Housing (CA 65), abolished on the same date, was merged into the new department (Commonwealth Gazette, No 183, 30 November, p 1). For technical reasons, the position of permanent head of the Department was created with the designation "Secretary to the Department of Housing and Construction and Director-General of Works", intended to embrace the statutory functions of the former Department of Works [III].
 
The principal matters dealt with by the Department included:

 - Housing
 - Provision of hostel accommodation in the Australian Territories 
   and for immigrants
 - Planning, execution and maintenance of Australian Government
   works 
 - Design, provision and maintenance of furniture, furnishings and 
   fittings for the Australian Government
 - Promotion of national standards in relation to building
   construction 
 
The Acts administered by the Department at its creation were:  

 Commonwealth and State Housing Agreement Acts
 Defence Service Homes Act 1918-1973
 Homes Savings Grant Act 1964-1972
 Housing Agreement Acts
 Housing Assistance Act 1973
 Housing Loans Insurance Act 1965-1966
 Re-establishment and Employment Act 1945-1966, Part VIII;
  Division 1 of Part XI insofar as it extends Part VIII;
  Part XIIX to the extent to which it applies or may be applied to
  the foregoing
 Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation Act 1970-1973
 States Grants (Dwellings for Aged Pensioners) Act 1969
 States Grants (Housing) Act 1971-1973
 States Grants (Imported Houses) Act 1950
 War Service Homes Agreement Act 1932
 War Service Homes (South Australia) Agreement Act 1934
 
The Central Office component of the Department based in Canberra (formed around the nucleus of the former Department of Housing Central Office) became known as the Department of Housing and Construction [I], Policy Headquarters, while the Central Office component based in Melbourne, (formed from the Central Office as the former Department of Works) became known as the Department of Housing and Construction [I], Head Office, Melbourne. In the February 1975 edition of the Australian Government Directory the Melbourne Office was described as Department of Housing and Construction, Operational Headquarters.
 
Also according to the February 1975 edition the following divisions were located in Canberra (Australian Government Directory, 1975, pp 171-172)
 
 Development Division
 Industry Resources Division
 Housing Assistance Division
 Housing Projects and Home Loans Division
 Building Technology and Sociology Division (part in Sydney,
  Melbourne)
 
with the following located at Operational Headquarters in Melbourne:  
 Deputy Secretary
 Major Projects Division
 Engineering Division
 Architectural Division
 Management Division
 
The Overseas Works Branch, the Bank and Special Projects Branch and the Experimental Building Station were all located in Sydney.  
On 12 June 1974 responsibility for the Housing Loans Insurance Act 1965-1973 and the Defence Service Homes Act 1918-1973 insofar as it related to insurance of dwelling houses passed from Housing and Construction [I] to the Department of Repatriation and Compensation (CA 1771) (Australian Government Gazette, No 48B, 12 June 1974).  
 
On 6 June 1975, responsibility for Defence Service Homes matters (the Defence Service Homes Act 1918-1974, the War Service Homes Agreement Act 1932 and the War Service Homes (South Australia) Agreement Act 1934) passed to the Department of Urban and Regional Development (CA 1493) (Australian Government Gazette, No S104, 6 June 1975, pp 3-4). The Department was abolished on 22 December 1975 (Executive Council Meeting No 119, PSB Minute No 1975/58; Australian Government Gazette, No S262) and was succeeded by:
 
 - for housing function: Department of Environment, Housing and
   Community Development (CA 1954)
 - for construction function: Department of Construction (CA 1952)  
 - for pipelines function: Department of National Resources 
   (CA 1957)  
 
The Ministers for Housing and Construction [I] were:
 
30 Nov 1973 -  6 Jun 1975  : Hon Leslie Royston Johnson (CP 104)   
 6 Jun 1975 - 11 Nov 1975  : Hon Joseph Martin Riordan (CP 100)  
11 Nov 1975 - 22 Dec 1975  : Senator the Hon John Leslie Carrick  
                             (CP 357)
 
The Secretary to the Department of Housing and Construction [I] (and also the Director-General of Works) was:
 
30 Nov 1973 - 22 Dec 1975  : A S Reiher
 

Historical agency address
Anzac Park West Building, Constitution Avenue, Parkes ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Meeting No. 65 (Prime Minister and Cabinet Minute No. 79) 30 Nov. 1973
Abolition: Executive Council Meeting No. 119, PSB Minute No. 1975/58, 22 Dec. 1975