The Department of Aboriginal Affairs was created on 19 December 1972 by Executive Council Minute. (1)

As from 19 December 1972 the Welfare Division (CA 2835) of the Northern Territory Administration, Department of the Interior [II] passed to the newly created Department of Aboriginal Affairs. (2)

By February 1973, the Northern Territory health and education responsibilities and related staff of the former Welfare Division were transferred to the Darwin Offices of the Commonwealth Departments of Health (CA 1042) and Education (CA 2592) respectively, in accordance with the Administrative Arrangements Order of 19 December 1972. On 25 February 1974, the social welfare function in the Northern Territory was transferred from the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to the Department of the Northern Territory [I]. (3)

In the 1973 Interim Australian Government Directory (February 1973, p. 35) and the 1973 Names Supplement to the Directory (November 1973, p. 18), the Darwin component of the Department of the Northern Territory is referred to as the 'Northern Territory Division'. In subsequent Directories it is referred to as the 'Regional Office Northern Territory'. As at December 1978, the formal title of the office was, still Northern Territory Division.

The 1977 Commonwealth Government Directory (p. 31), stated that the functions of Regional Offices of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs were to:

administer departmental programs in the States and the Northern Territory;
maintain communications with individual Aboriginals and Aboriginal organisations; and
advise the Government on their needs and aspirations. 

As part of the move towards self-government in the Northern Territory, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs transferred responsibility for the provision of essential services to Aboriginal communities. This involved the transfer of financing of programs for the provision and maintenance of general services to Aboriginals. The programs affected included:

Town Management and Public Utilities (municipal and local government services)
Culture, sport and recreation
Financial assistance to missions (essential services) and
Civil works

These functions were to be transferred to the Northern Territory Government in 1978. However, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs continued to administer aspects of them until 1 February 1980 when the Northern Territory government assumed control over the finances. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs continued acting on an agency basis until the Northern Territory Department of Community Development also took over the direct administration of these programs on 30 June 1980. The details of these transitional arrangements are set out in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs annual reports as follows:

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs Annual Report, 1978-79 stated:

On 1 July 1978 self-government was granted to the Northern Territory, where about one quarter of the population is Aboriginal, and in January 1979 responsibility for health services was transferred to the Northern Territory government. The Northern Territory Government also assumed responsibility for the provision of essential services (water supply, electricity, sewerage, roads) to Aboriginal people wherever they live, although the Department [of Aboriginal Affairs] continued on an agency basis to administer the provision of grants for these services until 30 June 1979. Negotiations continued on the transfer of some additional financial responsibilities from the Department to the Northern Territory Government. Important new legislation affecting Aboriginal people in the Territory included amendments to local government legislation to provide for 'community government', new liquor control legislation, amendment of the Crown Lands Act to define the rights of Aboriginals on pastoral leases, and other legislation to complement and supplement the Aboriginal Land Rights Act.(4)

The Department's Annual Report, 1979-80 stated:

Further transfers to the NT Government of local government/municipal type services and community recreation services took place on 1 February 1980. The Department [of Aboriginal Affairs] acted as agent for NT Government programs until 30 June 1980, at which time positions and some staff associated with the program were transferred to the Northern Territory. Funds for the programs are now provided through the General Revenue Grants to the Territory rather than through the Department. (5)

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs was abolished on 5 March 1990 and its functions passed to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. (6) At the regional level, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, State Office, Northern Territory functions passed to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, Northern Territory State Office.

The Director of Northern Territory Region, Head Office, as of April 1974, was Mr T.C. Lovegrove. (7)

References:

1. Executive Council Minute (PSB Minute No. 47) Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 129A of 19 December 1972

2. Commonwealth Gazette, No. 43, 12 Apr. 1973, p 88

3. Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Report for Dec. 1972-June 1974 (Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper, No. 299/1974, p. 1-2); Commonwealth Gazette, No. 65, 7 June 1973, p 47; Australian Government Gazette, No. 93, 2 Aug. 1973, p 55 

4. Department of Aboriginal Affairs Annual Report, 1978-79, pp 3-4 (Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper, No. 265/1979)

5. Department of Aboriginal Affairs Annual Report, 1979-80, p 3 (Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper, No. 367/1980)

6. Executive Minute No. 2, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. PS 9, 8 March 1990

7. Commonwealth Gazette, No. 31, 11 Apr. 1974, p 60