The Department of National Resources was re-named from the Department of Minerals and Energy on 22 December 1975 (Australian Government Gazette No. S262 of 22 December 1975). 

 "This re-naming . . . indicates the broadening of the Department's
 functions to include the water resources functions of the Department
 of Environment and the Department of Northern Australia" 
 (Prime Minister's Press Release, 18 Dec 1975).
 
The functions of the Department at its creation were:
 
 Evaluation and balanced development of mineral, water and energy 
  resources having regard to future requirements.
 Geodesy, mapping
 
The Acts administered by the Department were:
 
 Aluminium Industry Act 1960
 Atomic Energy Act 1943-1973
 Blowering Water Storage Works Agreement Act 1963
 Coal Industry Act 1946-1973, except Part V
 Coal Production (War-time) Act Repeal Act 1948-1973
 Derby Jetty Agreement Act 1962
 Gladstone Power Station Agreement Act 1974
 Julius Dam Agreement Act 1974
 Liquid Fuel (Defence Stocks) Act 1949-1966
 Menidee Lakes Storage Agreement Act 1963
 New South Wales Grant (Flood Mitigation) Act 1971-1973
 New South Wales Grant (Gwydir River Dam) Act 1969
 Petroleum Search Subsidy Act 1959-1973
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967-1974, except to the extent to 
  which that Act is administered by the Minister for the Northern 
  Territory
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Pipeline Licence Fees) Act 1967,
  except to the extent to which that Act is administered by the
  Minister for the Northern Territory
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Exploration Permit Fees) Act 1967, 
  except to the extent to which that Act is administered by the 
  Minister for the Northern Territory
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Production Licence Fees) Act 1967, 
  except to the extent to which that Act is administered by the  
  Minister for the Northern Territory
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Registration Fees) Act 1967, except to 
  the extent to which that Act is administered by the Minister for
  the Northern Territory
 Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Royalty) Act 1967, except to the
  extent to which that Act is administered by the Minister for the 
  Northern Territory
 Pipeline Authority Acts 1973
 Queensland Grant (Bundaberg Irrigation Works) Act 1970-1974
 Queensland Grant (Clare Weir) Act 1974
 Queensland Grant (Dawson River Weirs) Act 1973
 Queensland Grant (Kinchant Dam) Act 1973
 Queensland Grant (Maraboon Dam) Act 1968
 Queensland Grant (Proserpine Flood Mitigation) Act 1974
 Queensland Grant (Ross River Dam) Act 1974
 River Murray Waters Act 1915-1974
 Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973
 Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Power Act 1949-1975
 South Australia Grant (Lock to Kimba Pipeline) Act 1973
 South Australia Grant (Tailem Bend to Keith Pipeline) Act 1969 
 State Grant (Water Resources Assessment) Act 1973-1974
 Tasmania Grant (Cressy-Longford Irrigation Works) Act 1969
 Victoria Grant (King River Dam) Act 1969
 Victoria Grant (Millewa Pipelines) Act 1972
 Victoria Grant (River Murray Salinity) Act 1968
 Weipa Development Agreement Act 1965
 Western Australia Agreement (Ord River Irrigation) Act 1968
 Western Australia (Northern Development) Agreement Act 1963
 
The Department of National Resources was abolished on 20 December 1977 by Executive Council Meeting No 104 (PSB Minute No 1977/79) (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No S289, 20 December 1977). All of its functions, except that of commercial development and marketing of minerals which was assumed by the newly created Department of Trade and Resources (CA 2477), were assumed by the newly created Department of National Development [II] (CA 2475). 
 
Minister for the Department of National Resources was:
 
22 Dec 1975 - 12 Dec 1977  : Rt Hon John Douglas Anthony (CP 55)  

Secretary to the Department was:
 
22 Dec 1975 - 20 Dec 1977  : J Scully
 

Historical agency address
1975-? 1976: Institution of Engineers' Building, National Circuit,
             Barton ACT (also at Tasman House and T&G Building,
             Hobart Place, Canberra City ACT)
1976-  1977: Tasman House, Hobart Place, Canberra City ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Meeting No. 119 (PSB Minute No. 1975/58) of 22 December 1975
Abolition: Executive Council Meeting No. 109 (PSB Minute No. 1977/79) of 20 December 1977