In 1909 the Federal Quarantine Service had been created within the Department of Trade and Customs (CA 10). Dr J H L Cumpston became its Director on 1 June 1919 (2). The Department of Health itself was created by an order in Council as from 7 March 1921 (3). Dr Cumpston was appointed as the first Director-General of Health (he remained Director of Quarantine Services, although these functions were taken over by Health) and the original staffing of the Department was 154 permanent officers (4). All officers then occupying positions in the Quarantine Branch of the Department of Trade and Customs were transferred, with their positions, to the Department of Health.

The functions of the Department of Health as defined in the 1921 Order of Council were:
 
 The Administration of the Quarantine Act.
 
 The investigation of the causes of disease and death; the
 establishment and control of laboratories for this purpose.
 
 The control of the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories and the
 commercial distribution of the products manufactured in these      
 Laboratories.
 
 The methods of prevention of disease.
 
 The collection of sanitary data and the investigation of all 
 factors affecting health in industries.
 
 The education of the public in matters of public health.
 
 The administration of any subsidy made by the Commonwealth with the
 object of assisting any effort made by any State Government or 
 public authority directed towards the eradication, prevention or 
 control of any disease.
 
 The conducting of campaigns of prevention of disease in which more
 than one State is interested.
 
 The administrative control of the Australian Institute of
 Tropical Medicine.
 
 The administrative control of infectious disease amongst
 discharged members of the Australian Imperial Force.
 
 Generally, to inspire and co-ordinate public health measures.
  
 Any other functions which may be assigned to it (5).

In 1925 a Royal Commission on Health (CA 2299) recommended that the Department should further its activities by the establishment of several specialist divisions. In the same year eleven Commonwealth laboratories were set up; they formed the divisional offices of the Department in each state, serving as distribution centres for the biological products of the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (6).

The functions of the Department of Health were broadened by the setting up of various institutions under its control. In 1930 the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (CA 633) was established at the University of Sydney (7) and in 1931 the Institute of Anatomy (CA 551) was established under the Commonwealth Department of Health (8). The Institute had been established in 1924 as the 'National Museum of Australian Zoology', with Sir Colin MacKenzie as its first Director (9).

Because of the Depression, in 1932 the specialist divisions created in 1925 were abolished and a reorganisation of the Department effected (10).

In 1927 the Federal Health Council (CA 529) was established under the Department of Health (11). It consisted of Commonwealth representatives and the official heads of the Health Departments of all States. It met in ten sessions between 1927 and 1936 and achieved the co-operation of the various departments (12). An
Executive Council order of 17 September 1936 abolished the Federal Health Council, and the National Health and Medical Research Council (CA 514), and an enlarged version of the Federal Health Council with fifteen members, was established (13). The Council was formally constituted in 1937 (14) and held its first meeting in Hobart on 1 February 1937.(15)

Similarly, the Commonwealth Radium Laboratory was set up in 1929, and in 1935 the Commonwealth X-Ray and Radium Laboratory was set up to extend its functions. This Laboratory is maintained, controlled and staffed by the Department of Health.

When the National Insurance Commission (CA 1337) was established in 1938 it came under the control of the Department of Health. The National Insurance function was transferred to the Department of Social Services in August 1939. However, the records of the Commission were transferred back to Health when the Commission was wound up in 1947.

As from 1 April 1939 the responsibility for the Northern Territory Public Health and Medical Services passed from the Northern Territory Administration to the Commonwealth Department of Health (17). Pharmaceutical benefits became one of the areas of action by the Department with the passing of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Act in 1944 (18).

In January 1947 a further body was set up permanently under the Commonwealth Department of Health. This was the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories, which had previously been the Acoustic Research Laboratory of the National Health and Medical Research Council (19).

With the passing of the Tuberculosis Act 1945 the Department of Health gained responsibility for supervising the prevention and treatment of the disease (20). The National Tuberculosis Advisory Council (CA 494) was set up under the control of the Department on 1 September 1949 (under section 8 of the Tuberculosis Act 1948) to administer these functions. It had twelve members, and its
composition and functions have remained virtually unchanged to the present day (21).

A separate ACT Health Service Branch (CA 1305) was established in the Department of Health in late 1966. It took over medical, dental and pharmaceutical functions in the Territory from the Chief Medical Officer, who had previously held them. Authority for health services in the Territory before 30 June 1975 was divided between the ACT Health Services Branch of the Department of Health and the Canberra Hospitals Management Board. The Capital Territory Health Commission (CA 1918) was brought into being by the Health Commission Ordinance 1975 (No. 16 of 1975, made 26 June 1975, gazetted 27 June 1975) and took over all health services in the ACT once the Ordinance became effective (1 July 1975). One of the provisions of the Ordinance (Section 4) repealed the ordinance to which the Canberra Hospitals Management Board owed its existence.

In April 1973 the Interim Committee on Hospitals and Health Services (CA 1919) was established to 'launch the work of the National Hospitals and Health Services Commission which will be established as soon as legislation is passed by Parliament' (22). Although the Hospitals and Health Services Act 1973 received the Royal Assent on 19 December 1973 (23), the Interim Committee continued to exist and act until April 1974 when the Governor-General made the appointments necessary to bring the Commission (CA 2255) into existence, and the regulations were gazetted (24).

With the election of the Federal Labor Government in December 1972, significant reorganisation took place in the Department of Health. In the Administrative Arrangements Orders of 19 December 1972, 'Principal matters dealt with' was extended from:
 
 Public health, including -
 
 Medical and dental services, pharmaceutical benefits and hospital benefits
 Quarantine
 
to: Public health, including -
 
 Hospitals
 Community health and dental services
 Research
 Preventive medicine
 Pharmaceutical benefits
 Quarantine
 Health services in the Northern Territory of Australia, the
 Australian Capital Territory and Norfolk Island (25)

In the second formulation, 'hospitals' benefits' had been removed. Although the Department of Health had administered the National Health Act since it was passed in 1953 (26), the new government transferred the administration of the health and hospital benefits schemes (National Health Act 1953-1972, Parts III and VI inclusive) to the Department of Social Security (CA 1489) which replaced the Department of Social Services in December 1972. This function was previously performed by the Health Insurance and Benefits Division of the Department of Health. The Department of Social Security also administered the Health Insurance Act 1973 and Health Insurance Commission Act 1973 after they were passed in 1974 (27).

The Department of Health was extensively re-organised in early 1974. From a central office of six Divisions divided into twelve Branches and two Laboratories of equivalent Branch status, Health was reorganised into seven Divisions (plus the National Biological Standards Laboratory (CA 1357) which was given Divisional status which were divided into twenty Branches and two laboratories of equivalent Branch status (28).

With the return of Liberal-Country Party Government in December 1975, the Health Insurance Commission (Medibank) (CA 1904) and the administration of the Health Insurance Act 1973 were returned to the Department of Health, which also regained the administration of Parts III to VI inclusive of the National Health Act 1953-1975 (29). In January 1976 the Medical Insurance Services Division, Hospital Insurance and Nursing Division, and the Health Insurance Development and Review Branch were transferred from the Department of Social Security to the Department of Health (30).

On 1 January 1977 the first functions of government were transferred from the Commonwealth to the Northern Territory Government.
Responsibility for medical and health registration boards of the Northern Territory was passed from the Commonwealth Department of Health to the Northern Territory Department of Community Services (CA 2499). The Boards involved were:
 
 Northern Territory Medical Board
 Dental Board of the Northern Territory
 Optometrists Board of the Northern Territory
 Pharmacy Board of the Northern Territory
 Nurses Board (31)

On 1 January 1979 responsibility for the State-type health services function passed from the Commonwealth Department of Health (where it had been administered by the Department of Health, Northern Territory Divisional Office (CA 1042)) to the Northern Territory Department of Health (CA 2663) which had been created in July 1978. The Northern Territory Divisional Office of the Commonwealth Department of Health retained responsibility for Commonwealth Health matters such quarantine, acoustics laboratories, Commonwealth Medical Officers, immunization etc (32).

As at 12 September 1979 the Commonwealth Department of Health administered the following Acts:
 
 Acoustic Laboratories Act 1948
 Australian Institute of Anatomy Agreement Act 1924
 Beaches, Fishing Grounds and Sea Routes Protection Act section 3   
 Commonwealth Serum Laboratories Act 1961 
 Health Insurance Act 1973
 Health Insurance Commission Act 1973
 Home Nursing Subsidy Act 1956
 Hospitals and Health Service Commission (Repeal) Act 1978
 Medical Research Endowment Act 1937
 Mental Health and Related Services Assistance Act 1973
 Narcotics Drugs Act 1967, sections 9, 10, 11, 13, 19 and 23 and sub
  -section 24(1), and so much of the remaining provisions of that Act
  (other than sections 12 and 22 and sub-section 24(2)) as relates to
  powers and functions under those sections
 National Health Act 1953
 Nursing Homes Assistance Act 1974
 Quarantine Act 1908
 States Grants (Milk for School Children) Act 1950
 States Grants (Nursing Homes) Act 1969
 States Grants (Paramedical Services) Act 1969
 Therapeutic Goods Act 1966
 Tuberculosis Act 1948
 World Health Organisation Act 1947

The Administrative Arrangements Orders of 23 December 1981 gave the Department of Health responsibility for the Epidemiological Studies (Confidentiality) Act 1981.
 
In the same Administrative Arrangements Order, the principal matters for which the Department was responsible were reworded slightly as follows:
 
 Public health, including research and preventative medicine, and  
 matters relating to
 
  Hospitals
  Community health projects
  Pharmaceutical benefits
  Health benefits schemes
  Quarantine
 
The Beaches Fishing Grounds and Sea Routes Protection Act 1932 did not appear in the list of enactments administered by the Minister of Health in the Administrative Arrangements Orders of 2 July 1984 as it had been repealed. In the Administrative changes of 13 December 1984 (notified in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No S 21, 13 December 1984) the wording of the principal matter was again changed slightly to read:
 
 Public health research and preventive medicine
 Community health projects
 Pharmaceutical benefit-Health benefits scheme
 Human Quarantine

A new function of National drug abuse strategy was also included. The Department passed certain functions relating to nursing homes, home nursing and assistance for the disabled to the newly created Department of Community Services (CA 4133) at this time together with responsibility for the related legislation, namely the Nursing Subsidy Act 1956, Nursing Homes Assistance Act 1974.  States Grants (Paramedical Services) Act 1969 and the National Heath Act 1953 was also inherited by the Department of Community Services The Department of Health passed responsibility for animal and plant quarantine to the Department of Primary Industry [II] (CA 1960), however, it retained responsibility for human quarantine. The relevant act is listed under the Health portfolio as:
 
 Quarantine Act 1908, sections 8A and 9 and in relation to human
 quarantine

The third change in this Administrative Arrangement Order related to the Australian Institute of Anatomy Act 1924 which passed from the jurisdiction of the Department of Health to the new Arts, Heritage and Environment portfolio (CA 4131).

In a Media Release of 11 December 1984 the Prime Minister commented on the changes in welfare policy as follows:
 
 'The Minister for Health's primary responsibilities will be for
 Medicare, health research medical services and community health 
 matters. The Minister will have responsibility for the co-ordination
 of the national campaign against drug abuse, which will have high
 priority for the Government during its second term'

On 12 December 1985 the Prime Minister announced an administrative reorganisation as part of moves towards greater self government for the ACT.  His Press Release of that date stated that responsibility for territorial health services had been transferred from the Department of Health to the Department of Territories [II] (CA 4135). This transfer involved the following bodies:

 ACT Health Authority
 Chiropractic Board of the ACT
 Dental Board of the ACT
 Drugs Advisory Committee of the ACT
 Medical Board of the ACT (?)
 Mental Health Advisory Council (?)
 Nurses Board of the ACT
 Optometrists Board of the ACT
 Pharmacy Board of the ACT
 Physiotherapists Board of the ACT
 Radiation Council (?)
 Veterinary Surgeons Board of the ACT

The Administrative Arrangements Order of 12 December 1985 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No S 523 of 12 December 1985) stated that:  

 'the matters dealt with by the Department of Territories include 
 administration of the Australian Capital Territory, including
 Territorial health and pre-school, primary and secondary 
 education.'

In the Administrative Arrangements order of 30 January 1986 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No S 30, 31 January 1986) the Mental Health and Related Services Assistance Act 1973 was repealed and the Department became responsible for two new enactments:

 Quarantine (Validation of Fees) Act 1985, in relation to human
  quarantine
 States Grants (Nurse Education Transfer Assistance) Act 1985

On 24 July 1987 the Department of Health was abolished and responsibility for its functions and legislation were transferred to the new super-ministry of Community Services and Health (CA 5985).

Ministers for the Department of Health have been:

 7 Mar 1921 -  5 Feb 1923 : Hon Walter Massy Greene (CP 170)
 5 Feb 1923 - 26 May 1924 : Hon Austin Chapman
26 May 1924 - 13 Jun 1924 : Hon Sir Littleton Ernest Groom
13 Jun 1924 - 16 Jun 1925 : Senator the Hon Herbert Edward Pratten
16 Jun 1925 -  2 Apr 1927 : Hon Sir Neville Reginald Howse
 2 Apr 1927 - 24 Feb 1928 : Hon Stanley Melbourne Bruce (CP 23)
24 Feb 1928 - 22 Oct 1929 : Hon Sir Neville Reginald Howse
22 Oct 1929 -  3 Mar 1931 : Hon Frank Anstey
 3 Mar 1931 -  6 Jan 1932 : Hon John McNeill
 6 Jan 1932 - 12 Oct 1934 : Hon Charles William Clanan Marr
12 Oct 1934 -  6 Nov 1935 : Hon William Morris Hughes (CP 290)
 6 Nov 1935 - 26 Feb 1936 : Hon Joseph Aloysius Lyons (CP 254)
26 Feb 1936 - 29 Nov 1937 : Hon William Morris Hughes (CP 290)
29 Nov 1937 -  7 Nov 1938 : Hon Earle Christmas Grafton Page
 7 Nov 1938 - 26 Apr 1939 : Senator the Hon Hattil Spencer Foll
26 Apr 1939 - 14 Mar 1940 : Hon Sir Frederick Harold Stewart (CP 228)
14 Mar 1940 - 28 Oct 1940 : Hon Harold Victor Campbell Thorby
28 Oct 1940 -  7 Oct 1941 : Hon Sir Frederick Harold Stewart
 7 Oct 1941 - 21 Sep 1943 : Hon Edward James Holloway
21 Sep 1943 - 18 Jun 1946 : Senator the Hon James Macintosh Fraser
18 Jun 1946 - 19 Dec 1949 : Senator the Hon Nicholls Edward McKenna
19 Dec 1949 - 11 Jun 1956 : Hon Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page
11 Jun 1956 - 22 Dec 1961 : Hon Donald Alister Cameron
22 Dec 1961 - 18 Nov 1964 : Senator the Hon Harrie Walter Wade
21 Nov 1964 - 26 Jan 1966 : Hon Reginald William Colin Swartz (CP 68)
26 Jan 1966 - 22 Mar 1971 : Senator the Hon Alexander James Forbes (CP 140)
22 Mar 1971 -  2 Aug 1971 : Senator the Hon Ivor John Greenwood (CP 153)
 2 Aug 1971 -  5 Dec 1972 : Senator the Hon Sir Kenneth McColl Anderson
 5 Dec 1972 - 19 Dec 1972 : Hon Lance Barnard (CP 94)
19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 : Hon Douglas Nixon Everingham (CP 114)
22 Dec 1975 -  8 Dec 1979 : Hon Ralph James Dunnett Hunt (CP 311)
 8 Dec 1979 - 20 Apr 1982 : Hon Michael John Randal Mackeller
20 Apr 1982 -  7 May 1982 : Senator the Hon Peter Erne Baume (CP 323)
 7 May 1982 - 11 Mar 1983 : Hon James Joseph Carlton (CP 304)
11 Mar 1983 - 24 Jul 1987 : Hon Neal Blewett (CP 310)
The Directors-General of Health have been:

 1 Mar 1921 -  1 Jun 1945 : Dr J H L Cumpston
 1 Jun 1945 -  1 Oct 1947 : Dr F McCallum
 1 Oct 1947 -  1 Sep 1960 : Dr A J Metcalfe
 1 Sep 1960 -  1 Sep 1973 : Sir William D Refshauge
 1 Sep 1973 - 31 Dec 1982 : Dr G Howells
 1 Jan 1983 -  9 Sep 1984 : L J Willett
10 Sep 1984 - 24 Jul 1987 : B V McKay
The main records of the Department between 1925 and 1949 are contained in CRS A1928, Correspondence files, multiple number system (First series), 1925-49. This series contains all policy and administration matters concerning the Department of Health.

Other records held by the Department include numerous series of control records for the correspondence files, and miscellaneous series of cards, photographs, maps, computer print-out, etc. (For a detailed listing of series produced by the Central Office of the Department of Health, see inventory of series for CA 17).
References:

1.  Commonwealth of Australia, Health, Special issue the 'Activities
    of Commonwealth Department of Health', vol 17, no 4, April 1939,
    p 342
2.  Health, vol 17, no 4, p 34; Michael Roe, 'The establishment of
    the Australian Department of Health: Its background and
    significance, in Historical Studies, vol 17, no 67, October 1976,
    p 178
3.  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 20, 3 March 1921
4.  Roe, Loc cit, p 181: Commonwealth of Australia, List of
    Permanent Officers of the Commonwealth Public Service as on 30th
    June 1921, pp 76-78
5.  Health, vol 17, no 4, pp 34-35
6.  Health, vol 17, no 4, pp 35-44
7.  Health, vol 17, no 4, pp 45-48 Gazette No 35 (Administrative   
    Arrangements Orders) 14 April 1932, p 548
9.  Health, vol 17 no 4, pp 46-47
10. Health, vol 17, no 4, p 35
11. Executive Council Order of 20 November 1926, cited in Health,
    vol 14, no 8, August 1936, p 90
12. Health, vol 17, no 4, p 35
13. Gazette, No 79, 24 September 1936, pp 1727-1728
14. Health, vol 17, no 4, p.63
15. Health, vol 15 no 2, February 1937, p 13
16. Health, vol 17, no 4, p 51; Health, vol 13 no 12, December
    1935, pp 151-152 Health, vol 1 no 1, March 1951, p 4
17. Health, vol 17 no 4, April 1939, p 53; Gazette, no 153
    (Administrative Arrangements Orders) 30 November 1939, p 2639
18. Gazette, No 52, 14 March 1947, p 897
19. Health, vol 1, no 1, p 21; Gazette, no 71 (Administrative
    Arrangements Orders) 23 November 1950, p 3025
20. Gazette, No 52, 14 March 1947 p 897
21. Gazette, No 66, 8 September 1949, D 2549
22. New Statement of Minister for Health; 5 April 1973
23. Australian Government Gazette, No 198 28 December 1973, p 2
24. Gazette, No 17, 21 February 1974, p 1.
25. Gazette No 131 (Administrative Arrangements Orders) 20
    December 1972, pp 5-6
26. Gazette, No 28, 7 May 1959, pp 1639-1640
27. Gazette, No 808, 2 October 1974, p 7
28. Health, vol 24 no 1 & 2, 1st and 2nd quarters 1974, p 15
29. Gazette, No S 128, 22 December 1975 D 9
30. Health, vol 26, no 1, 1st quarter 1976, p 9
31. Department of Home Affairs, Annual Report 1978/79, p 45;
    Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper, No 362 of 1979
32. Director-General of Health, Annual Report 1978/79, p 154;
    Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper, No 319 of 1979; Northern
    Territory News, 27 December 1978, p 2
33. Roe, (Loc cit, p 181; Commonwealth Gazette, No 114 7 June 1945,
    p 1280; Gazette No 207, 30 October 1947, p 1397; Health, vol 10
    No 3 September 1960, p 67; Health, vol 23 no 2 & 3, 2nd & 3rd
    quarters 1973, pp 7-9



Sources:

Michael Roe, 'The Establishment of the Australian Department of Health; Its background and significance ' In Historical Studies, Vol 17 No 67, October 1976, pp 176-

Commonwealth of Australia, List of Permanent Officers of the Commonwealth Public Service as on 30 June 1921

Commonwealth of Australia, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette/(from 1973) Australian Government Gazette /(from 1977) Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
 
Department of Health, Health, 1936-1976

Putting Life into Years: The Commonwealth's Role in Australia's Health since 1901 (Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra, 2001)

Historical agency address

1921-1927: Melbourne
1927-1951:? Canberra
1951-1956: Barton, ACT
1956-1969: Administrative Building, Parkes, ACT
1969-1987: Alexander Building, Phillip, ACT

Legislation

Creation: Order in Council, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. 20 Thursday 3 March 1921
Abolition: Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Special Gazette, No. S 183, 24 July 1987