First established as the Soils Physics and Mechanics Section in 1943, and renamed the Soil Mechanics Section in 1955, the section was part of the Division of Soils (CA 4460) until becoming independent on
1 July 1958. Accorded divisional status in 1967, it was renamed as the Division of Applied Geomechanics on 22 June 1970, and became the Division of Geomechanics on 1 July 1983. The Division incorporated part of the Division of Mineral Engineering (coal mining; noise attenuation) in 1988.

The Division consists of a headquarters in Melbourne (Syndal), a metalliferous mining field station at Broken Hill NSW, and the Sydney Basin Coal Mining Research Station at Wollongong, NSW.  
It conducts basic and applied research that improves the capacity for prediction and control of the behaviour of rock masses in which mining and other engineering activities are performed. 

Sources: 
Commonwealth Government Directory, Vol. 2, 1985, p.34
CSIRO Index (CSIX Database)
 

Historical agency address
Kinnoull Grove, Syndal, Vic

Previous agency unregistered

1970-1983: Division of Applied Geomechanics
1967-1970: Division of Soil Mechanics