The Department of Minerals and Energy and created on 19 December 1972 by Executive Council Minute (Public Service Board Minute 47, 19 December 1972) (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 129A, 19 December 1972, p 1) on 19 December 1972.
 
Functions of the Department were listed as:
 
 Evaluation and balanced development of minerals and energy
  resources having regard to future requirements.
 Geodetic surveying, and the production of topographical maps, for
  Commonwealth purposes.
 (Administrative Arrangements Orders, Gazette, No 131, 20 December
  1972, p 6).
 
Acts administered:
 
 Aluminium Industry Act 1960
 Atomic Energy Act 1953-1966
 Coal Industry Act 1946-1966, except Part V.
 Coal Production (War-time) Act Repeal Act 1948-1966
 Liquid Fuel (Defence Stocks) Act 1949-1966
 National Oil Proprietary Limited Agreement Act 1937
 National Oil Proprietary Limited Agreement Act 1939
 Oil Agreement Act 1952
 Petroleum Search Subsidy Act 1957-1958
 Petroleum Search Subsidy Act 1959-1969
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967-1968, except to the extent to 
  which this Act is administered by the Minister for External
  Territories and the Minister for the Northern Territory
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Exploration Permit Fees) Act 1967, 
  except to the extent to which this Act is administered by the 
  Minister for External Territories and the Minister for the Northern
  Territory
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Pipeline Licence Fees) Act 1967,
  except to the extent to which this Act is administered by the
  Minister for External Territories and the Minister for the Northern
  Territory  
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Production Licence Fees) Act 1967,
  except to the extent to which this Act is administered by the
  Minister for External Territories and the Minister for the Northern
  Territory 
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Registration Fees) Act 1967, except to 
  the extent to which this Act is administered by the Minister for 
  External Territories and the Minister for the Northern Territory 
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Royalty) Act 1967, except to the
  extent to which this Act is administered by the Minister for
  External Territories and the Minister for the Northern Territory
 Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority Act 1960-1963
 Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Power Act 1949-1966
 
A press release issued at the time of the creation of the Department stated.
 
 "The new Department and its Minister will take over the central
 functions of the Department of National Development.  They will be
 charged with pursuing energeticaly the development of Australia's
 minerals and energy resources, and with regulating off-shore oil and
 mining activities.
 
 "The Atomic Energy Commission will be responsible to the Minister on
  matters concerning atomic energy.
 
 "The more cohesive nature of the new Department will enable it to
 concentrate its activities on the vital task of  developing our
 national resources of minerals and energy. At the same time, the
 Department will be charged with the responsibility of husbanding
 resources so that they are not drawn down more quickly than they
 should be in the national interest and having in mind our own
 potentials for exploitation  rather than export of any processed
 materials".
 
The Department was re-named on 22 December 1975 to the Department of National Resources (Executive Council Meeting No 119, Public Service Board Minute No 1975/58; Australian Government Gazette, No S262, 22 December 1975, p 2).
 
The following were Ministers for Minerals and Energy:
 
19 Dec 1972 - 14 Oct 1975   : Hon Reginald Francis Xavier Connor 
                              (CP 433)
14 Oct 1975 - 11 Nov 1975   : Hon Kenneth Shaw Wreidt (CP 231)
11 Nov 1975 - 22 Dec 1975   : Rt Hon John Douglas Anthony (CP 55)
 
Secretaries to the Department were:
 
19 Dec 1972 - 20 Dec 1972   : L F Bott (Acting)
20 Dec 1972 - 24 Aug 1975   : Sir Lennox Hewitt
24 Aug 1975 - 22 Dec 1975   : J Scully
 

Historical agency address
  1972-by1973: Tasman House, 26-30 Marcus Clarke St, Canberra City
by1973-  1975: Institution of Engineers Building, National Circuit,
               Barton ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Minute No.47; Executive Council Minute No.PSB 55, 19 December 1972
Abolition: Executive Council Meeting No. 119, Public Service Board Minute No. 1975/58, 22 December 1975.