The Department of Urban and Regional Development was created by Executive Council Minute on 19 December 1972 (Commonwealth Gazette, No 129A, 19 December 1972, p 1).
 
The functions of the Department as set out in the Administrative Arrangement Order of 19 December 1972 were:
 
 Matters related to city and regional planning and development,
 including assistance to, and co-operation with, the States and
 local-governing bodies.
 
The acts administered by the Department as set out in the same Order were:
 
 National Capital Development Commission Act 1957-1960 (inherited 
  from the Department of the Interior [II] (CA 31)
 National Urban and Regional Development Authority Act 1972
 (inherited from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 
 (CA 1401)).
 
In a press statement released by the Prime Minister at the time the following was said:
 
 "The Government believes that the people of Sydney and Melbourne 
 have demonstrated clearly by their votes their desire for a change 
 and for better conditions for suburban living.
 
 The Department of Urban and Regional Development will have a chance 
 to pursue energetically, in co-operation with the States and Local 
 Government bodies, all matters related to city and regional
 planning and development.
 
 The National Capital Development Commission, as the body most
 expert in the planning of new decentralised cities, will be
 attached to the new Minister and Department to provide them with
 experienced advice.
 
 The National Urban and Regional Development Authority will also be 
 attached to the new Minister and Department as its functions and 
 personnel are integrated into the work of the new Minister and 
 Department.
 
 The functions of the Minister will include both the planning and
 development of new urban areas such as at Albury-Wodonga and also 
 early and major attention to the problems of our capital cities."  

Under the Administrative Arrangement Order of 2 October 1974
(Australian Government Gazette, No 80B, 2 October 1974) the Department gained the following new Acts:
 
 Albury-Wodonga Development Act 1973
 Albury-Wodonga Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1973
 Canberra Water Supply (Googong Dam) Act 1974
 Glebe Lands (Appropriation) Act 1974
 Growth Centres (Financial Assistance) Act 1973
 Lands Commission (Financial Assistance) Act 1973
 Sewerage Agreements Act 1973
 
In the administrative arrangements order of 10 February 1975
(Australian Government Gazette, No S21, 10 February 1975) the Department was to administer the following new acts:
 
 Sewerage Agreements Act 1974
 Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assitance) Act 1974.  

On 6 June 1975 in the administrative arrangement order (Australian Government Gazette, No S104, 6 June 1974) the Department gained the implicit function of provision of servicemen's homes from the Department of Housing and Construction [I] (CA 1543) and the related legislation (i.e. Defence Service Homes Act 1918-1974, War Service Homes Agreement Act 1932 and War Service Homes (South Australia) Agreement Act 1934), and the function of requisition, leasing and disposal of land and property from the Department of Services and Property (CA 1488) and the related legislation (i.e. Lands Acquisition Act 1956-1973, and Lands Acquisition (Defence) Act 1968).
 
The Department gained the function of control, use and management of land and property together with that of land, engineering and topographical surveys from the Department of Services and Property on 7 October 1975 (Australian Government Gazette, No S200, 7 October 1975)  

On 1 July 1975 in the administrative arrangement order (Australian Government Gazette, No S128, 1 July 1975) the following new Acts were to be administered:
 
 Australian Heritage Commission Act, 1975 (except to the extent to 
 which that Act is administered by the Minister for Environment).  
 Australian Housing Corporation Act 1975
 
With the appointment of the Fraser Goverment by the Governor-General on 11 November 1975, Senator John Leslie Carrick was appointed caretaker minister.
 
The Department was abolished on 22 December 1975 (Australian
Government Gazette, No S2628, 22 December 1975)
 
Matters related to urban and regional planning and development, including assistance to, and co-operation with, the States and local governing bodies went to the Department of Environment Housing and Community Development (CA 1954) as did all the Acts administered by the Department of Urban and Regional Development, except for the National Capital Development Commission Act 1957-1975 which went to the Department of the Capital Territory (CA 1477). The functions of acquisition, leasing and disposal of land and property, including office accommodation, in Australia for Australian Government purposes; control, use and management of land and property, including office accommodation, in Australia for Australian Government purposes; land, engineering and topographical surveys for Australian Government purposes went to the Department of Administrative Services [II] (CA 1964). 

Ministers for the Department were:
 
19 Dec 1972 - 11 Nov 1975  : Hon Thomas Uren
11 Nov 1975 - 22 Dec 1975  : Senator the Hon John Leslie Carrick  
                             (CP 357)
 
Secretary to the Department was:
 
19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975  : R B Lansdown (CP 283)
 

Historical agency address
1972-1973: MTIA House, Northbourne Avenue, Canberra
1973-1975 : Lombard House, 40 Allara Street, Canberra
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Meeting No.47, (PSB Minute No. 55), 19 Dec1972
Abolition: Executive Council Meeting No.119, (PSB Minute No. 1975/58),22 Dec.1975