The Department of External Territories [II] was created by Executive Council Minute (Prime Minister's Department Minute Number 4) on 28 February 1968 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 18A, 28 February 1968, p 1116A)
 
The first Minister of the Department was the Honourable Charles Edward Barnes and the first Secretary, Mr George Warwick Smith, CBE
 
The principle matters dealt with by the Department were:
 
 Territories under the authority of the Commonwealth, other than the 
 Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, the  
 Northern Territory of Australia, the Territory of Ashmore and 
 Cartier Islands, the Australian Antarctic Territory and the
 Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Island".
 (Administrative Arrangements, Commonwealth Gazette, No 18A, 28 
 February 1968, p 1116A)
 
In detail this included:
 
 - all aspects of government of Norfolk Island, Papua and New
   Guinea, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Christmas Island (except
   defence and civil aviation)
 
 - develop the external territories
 
 - recruit staff for territorial public services and other
   territorial organizations
 
 - administer territorial superannuation schemes and the New Guinea 
   Civilian War Pension Scheme
 
 - procure and ship stores and supplies for territorial
   administrations
 
 - administer matters connected with
   . CA 651, Australian School of Pacific Administration
   . CA 244, British Phosphate Commission
   . CA 281, Christmas Island Phosphate Commission
   . expropriated properties in Papua and New Guinea
   . matters relating to the United Nations Trusteeship Agreement
     for New Guinea
   . South Pacific Commission
 
The Acts administered by the Minister were:
 
 Christmas Island Act 1958-1966
 Christmas Island Agreement Act 1958
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955-1966
 Native Members of the Forces Benefits Act 1957-1966, in relation to
  native members of the Forces who are or were Aboriginal natives of
  the Territory of Papua or the Territory of New Guinea or of an
  island in the Pacific Ocean and their dependants
 Nauru Independence Act 1967
 Nauru Island Agreement Acts
 New Guinea Timber Agreement Act 1952-1953
 Norfolk Island Act 1957-1966
 Norfolk Island Ordinances Act 1957
 Papua and New Guinea Act 1949-1966
 Papua and New Guinea (Validation of Appointments) Act 1953
 Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923-1962, in relation to 
  prisoners sentenced in the Territory of Papua, the Territory of 
  Christmas Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands or 
  Norfolk Island
 Treaty of Peace (Germany) Act 1919-1966, in relation to regulations
  concerning Papua and New Guinea (Treaty of Peace Regulations, 
  Act II)
 (Administrative Arrangements, Commonwealth Gazette, No 18A, 28
  February 1968, p 1116B)
 
In 1970 the administration of the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Acts insofar as they related to matters concerning the area adjacent to the Territory of Papua and the Territory of New Guinea was transferred from the Department of National Development to the Department of External Territories (Commonwealth Gazette, No 30, April 1970, pp 2538-2539).  

The following administrative changes occurred on 19 December 1972 following the coming to power of the new Australian Labour Party Government:
 
 - Norfolk Island, Coral Sea Islands Territory to CA 1477,
   Department  of the Capital Territory
 - Education in Norfolk Island to CA 1478, Department of Education  
 - Health Services in Norfolk Island to CA 17, Department of Health  
 - Police forces of Norfolk Island to CA 5, Attorney-General's 
   Department
 (Commonwealth Gazette, No 131, 20 December 1972, pp 1-6)
 
With the granting of internal self-government to CO 53, Papua New Guinea on 1 December 1973 came the abolition of the Department of External Territories (Public Service Board Minute 1973/78) (Commonwealth Gazette, No 183, 30 November 1973). 
 
The last Minister of External Territories, the Honourable
W L Morrison became the "Minister Assisting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea Matters."
 
The following Departments inherited functions from the Department of External Territories [II]:
 
Attorney-General's Department (CA 5):
 
 - Justice Section functions [Papua New Guinea Act, Pat VI, and 
   Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act (in relation to Papua New
   Guinea)]
 
Department of Foreign Affairs (CA 1382):
 
 - Administration of aid to Papua New Guinea [administered by the 
   Australian Development Assistance Agency]
 
 - Papua New Guinea functions [including maintenance of channel of
   communication between Australian and Papua New Guinea Governments
   except in the area of foreign affairs and statutory matters which
   are the responsibility of other Australian ministers; and
   completion of constitutional steps necessary to bring independence
   to Papua New Guinea. (administered by the Papua New Guinea
   Office)]
 
 - Australian School of Pacific Administration
 
 - Australian Office in Papua New Guinea
 
Department of Overseas Trade (CA 1485):
 
 - Trade functions
 
Repatriation Department (CA 16):
 
 - Further sections of the Native Members of the Forces Benefits Act  
Department of Services and Property (CA 1488):
  
 - Acquisition or continued occupation of land for Australian
   purposes in Papua New Guinea and Australian Government prooperty \
   in Papua New Guinea.
 
Department of the Special Minister of State (CA 1490):
 
 - Administration of matters related to the Cocos (Keeling) and 
   Christmas Islands (including the Phosphate Commissions)
 
Department of the Treasury (CA 11):
 
 - Custodian of Expropriated Property.
 
Ministers of the Department of External Territories were:
 
28 Feb 1968 -  2 Feb 1972   : Hon Charles Edward Barnes (CP 64)   
 2 Feb 1972 -  5 Dec 1972   : Hon Andrew Sharp Peacock (CP 234)  
 5 Dec 1972 - 19 Dec 1972   : Hon Edward Gough Whitlam (CP 99)  
19 Dec 1972 - 30 Nov 1973   : Hon William Lawrence Morrison  

Secretaries to the Department were:
 
28 Feb 1968 - 22 Jul 1970   : G H Warwick Smith (CP 319)
22 Jul 1970 - 30 Nov 1973   : D O Hay
 

Historical agency address
Derwent House, Hobart Place, Canberra City ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Minute, 28 February 1968
Abolition: [subject to further research]