The Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development was created by Executive Council Minute (PSB Minute No 58) of 22 December 1975 and was responsible for the majority of functions of three abolished Departments - Urban and Regional Development (CA 1493), Environment (CA 1869), and Tourism and Recreation (CA 1491), together with the housing function of the Department of Housing and
Construction [I] (CA 1543).
 
The administration of the Housing Loans Insurance Corporation and the insurance provisions of the Defence Service Homes Act were transferred from the Department of Repatriation and Compensation
(CA 1771).  

 "This Department will be a large and important department working 
 closely with the States. In its operation it will express the
 Government's view that matters of local concern will be undertaken
 with maximum consultation and concern for local conditions". 
 (Prime Minister's Press Release, 18 December 1975).
 
The Administrative Arrangements Orders of 22 December (notified in Australian Government Gazette, No S262, 22 December 1975) stated that the Department had the following functions:
 
 Urban and regional planning and development
 Environment and Conservation
 Building industry
 Housing
 Provision of hostel accommodation in the Australian Territories and 
  for immigrants
 Leisure, including sport, physical fitness and community recreation 
 Youth affairs.
 
It was responsible for the administration of the following
legislation:
 
 Albury-Wodonga Development Act 1973
 Albury-Wodonga Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1973
 Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975
 Australian Housing Corporation Act 1975
 Captains Flat (Abatement of Pollution) Agreement Act 1975
 Cities Commission Act 1972-1973
 Cities Commission (Repeal) Act 1975
 Commonwealth and State Housing Agreements Acts
 Defence Service Homes Act 1918-1975
 Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974-1975
 Glebe Lands (Appropriation) Act 1974
 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975
 Growth Centres (Financial Assistance) Act 1973
 Homes Savings Grant Act 1964-1975
 Housing Agreement Acts
 Housing Assistance Act 1973
 Housing Loans Insurance Act 1965-1973
 Land Commissions (Financial Assistance) Act 1973
 National Fitness Act 1941
 National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975
 Re-establishment and Employment Act 1945-1973, Part VIII; Division
  1 of Part XI in so far as it extends Part VIII; Part XII to the 
  extent to which it applies or may be applied to the foregoing  
 Sewerage Agreements Act 1973
 Sewerage Agreements Act 1974
 States Grants (Dwellings for Pensioners) Act 1974
 States Grants (Housing) Act 1971-1973
 States Grants (Nature Conservation) Act 1974
 States Grants (Soil Conservation) Act 1974
 Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974-1975 
 War Service Homes Agreement Act 1932
 War Service Homes (South Australia) Agreement Act 1934
 
A major managerial reorganisation of the Department occurred around 19 January 1976 which resulted in a reduction of the Department's divisional responsibilities from an initial 80 or so to 50. This top-heavy structure had resulted from the merging of four departments into Environment, Housing and Community Development. The pruning of Second Division positions was achieved by putting Public Servants acting in Second Division positions back into the Third Division. The Central Office was organised on a divisional basis. The divisions were:
 
 Building Division
 Community Division
 Environment Division
 Housing Division
 Impact Assessment Division
 Management Division
 Research Directorate
 Infrastructure Division
 
The functions of the Department included:
 
 Building Division: Developed, co-ordinated and implemented
 Commonwealth policies for the building industry; monitored and  
 advised on resource utilisation and allocation in the residential 
 and non-residential building industry.

 Community Division: Developed and implemented policies on community 
 development, youth, sport and recreation; advised on and developed 
 policy on local government in relation to environment, housing and 
 community development matters.

 Development Division: Co-ordinated the evaluation and review of 
 policies and programmes concerned with the environment, housing and 
 community development; advised on resource and locational
 implications of government policies and private decisions relevant  
 to the Department's activities; advised on relevant aspects of 
 public finance; provided data services as required.

 Environment Division: Developed and co-ordinated policies and 
 administered national programs relating to the conservation, 
 management and protection of the natural and built environment. 

 Housing Division: Developed, co-ordinated and implemented
 Commonwealth policies for housing and administered housing programs 
 other than those specifically administered by other departments or 
 agencies.

 Impact Assessment Division: Administered the Commonwealth's
 responsibilities under the Environment Protection (Impact of 
 Proposals) Act 1974.

 Management Division: Co-ordinated relationships within the
 Department and between the Department and the Minister, the
 Parliament and other bodies within the Ministry; developed and 
 obtained all relevant legal instruments and advised on aspects of 
 legislation; advised on and arranged intergovernmental negotiations 
 and agreements in relevant fields; co-ordinated and oversaw the 
 Minister's relations with other governmental bodies; provided 
 management services and controlled financial activities of the 
 Department.

 Research Directorate: Undertook research and investigations
 consistent with the efficient performances of the Department's 
 functions.
 
The Department also provided State Offices which provided a local point of contact for liaison with State and local government and the general public on Home Savings Grants, Housing Allowance Experiment, research on and liaison with the building industry; community development, community relations and other relevant programs and policies; provided a service function for the Indicative Planning Council for the housing industry. Additionally, the Department provided a Counsellor (Scientific and Environmental Affairs) within the Australian Delegation to the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. 
 
Ministers for the Department were:
 
22 Dec 1975 -  8 Jul 1976  : Hon Ivor John Greenwood (CP 153)
 9 Jul 1976 - 20 Dec 1977  : Hon Kevin Eugene Newman (CP 230) 
20 Dec 1977 -  5 Dec 1978  : Hon Raymond John Groom (CP 376)  

Secretary to the Department was:
 
22 Dec 1975 -  5 Dec 1978  : R B Lansdown (CP 283)

 
Sources
 
Commonwealth Government Directory 1978, pp 135-141
Commonwealth Gazette, No S262, 22 December 1975, pp 8-9
Historical agency address
Lombard House, 40 Allara Street, Canberra City
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Meeting No. 119, Public Service Board Minute No.1975/58, 22 Dec. 1975.
Abolition: Subject to further research