The Department of the Environment and Conservation was created by the
Executive Council (Public Service Board Minute 47 of 19 December 1972) (Commonwealth Gazette, No 129A, 19 December 1972, p 1).
 
The functions of the Department were to:
 
 Formulate and administer policies on environmental matters and
 organise public hearings where appropriate. 

 Formulate and administer policies for tne protection of Australian
 flora and fauna and their habitats, the reservation and conservation
 of adequate lands as national parks and nature reserves.
 
 Formulate and administer policies for the conservation, development
 and management of water, soil, marine and atmospheric resources in
 the framework of overall planning and environmental objectives.
 (Australian Government Directory 1975, p 145).
 
The Department became responsible for wildlife conservation from October 1974. (Administrative Arrangements Orders in Commonwealth Gazette, No 80 B, 2 October 1974, p 6).
 
In a press statement released at the time the Department was created it was said:
 
 "Preservation of the environment has become a matter of public
 concern. The appointment of a Minister and Department specially
 charged with environment and conservation is a response to this
 concern.
 
 The new Department will have functions which will enable it to
 follow up the recommendations made by the path-breaking report of
 the Senate Committee on Water Pollution.
 
 As well as having responsibility for the environment and for
 conservation generally - a responsibility which will involve the
 Minister and his Department in proposals by other Ministers and
 Departments - the new Department will carry responsibility for the
 establishment and development of a system of national parks." 
 (Press Release, 'New Departments: summary of main functions and
 brief notes')  

On 21 April 1975, the Governor-General approved the change of name of the Department of the Environment and Conservation to the Department of the Environment (CA 1869) (Executive Council Meeting No 43; Prime Minister and Cabinet Minute No 20) (Australian Government Gazette, No
S 70, 21 April 1975).

Moses Henry Cass and Donald Frederick McMichael remained Minister and Secretary respectively of the re-named Department. Concerning the change of name, the Prime Minister, Mr E G Whitlam said that the former name suggested that conservation was a separate matter from the environment whereas it was in fact a major component of the Government's total environment program. For agencies controlled see inventory of agencies.
 
Acts administered:
 
1972-1975 : Blowering Water Storage Works Agreement Act 1963
1972-1975 : Menindee Lakes Storage Agreement Act 1963
1972-1975 : New South Wales Grant (Flood Mitigation) Act 1971 (also
            1971-1973)
1972-1975 : New South Wales Grant (Gwydir River Dam) Act 1969 
1972-1974 : River Murray Waters Act 1915-1970 [repealed - see below] 1972-1975 : South Australia Grant (Tailem Bend to Keith Pipeline) Act
            1969
1972-1974 : State Grants (Water Resources) Act 1969 [repealed]
1972-1974 : State Grants (Water Resources Measurement)Act 1967
            [repealed]
1972-1975 : State Grants (Water Resources Measurement) Act 1970 
1972-1975 : Tasmanian Grant (Cressy-Longford Irrigation Works) Act
            1969
1972-1975 : Victoria Grant (King River Dam) Act 1969
1972-1974 : Victoria Grant (Millewa Pipelaines) Act 1972 [to CA 1643,
            Housing and Construction [II]]
1972-1975 : Victoria Grant (River Murray Salinity) Act 1968
1975-1975 : States Grant (Water Resources Measurement) Act 1973 [new
            enactment]
1974-1975 : River Murray Waters Act 1915-1973 (1974)
1975      : Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974
            [new enactment]
1975      : States Grants (Nature Conservation) Act 1974 [new
            enactment]
1975      : States Grants (Soil Conservation) Act 1974 [new
            enactment]  

The Minister for the Department of the Environment and Conservation was:
 
19 Dec 1972 - 21 Apr 1975 : Hon Moses Cass (CP 168)
 
Secretaries to the Department were:
 
19 Dec 1972 -  5 Feb 1973 : Sir Lenox Hewitt, OBE
 5 Feb 1973 - 21 Apr 1975 : D F McMichael (CP 303)
 

Sources
 
Australian Government Directory 1973, 1974, 1975.
Commonwealth Government Gazette and Australian Government Gazette. 
 Issues from December 1972 to April 1975.
 

Historical agency address
1972-1973: Instution of Engineers Building, National Circuit, Barton
           ACT
1973-1973: Tasman House, Hobart Place, Canberra City ACT 
1973-1975: Civic Permanent Building, Allara Street, Canberra City ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Minute No. 47, 19 December 1972 
Abolition: Executive Council Meeting No. 43 (Prime Minister and Cabinet Minute No. 20, 21 April 1975.