The Prime Minister's Department had its origin in 1904 as a Prime Minister's Office (CA 588) in the Department of External Affairs [I] (CA 7). The Department was created on 1 July 1911 by Executive Council Minute No 53 of 28 December 1911. The functions of the Department as outlined by the Administrative Arrangements Order of 13 April 1912 were: 

. Auditor-General and Staff
. Communication with the Governor-General
. Communication with the States
. Officers of the Parliament
. Public Service Commissioner and Staff (as from 1 July 1912) 
. Royal Commissions
. The Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
. The Federal Executive Council
 
The Acts to be administered by the Department were:
 
. Arbitration (Public Service) Act 1911
. Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 (as from 1 July 1912)
. Commonwealth Salaries Act 1907
. Parliamentary Allowances Act 1907
. Petherick Collection Act 1911
. Royal Commissions Act 1902
 
The distinctive roles of the new Secretary to the Department (the Permanent head) and the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister were not clearly defined for some years after the foundation of the Prime Minister's Department. When the department was officially established in 1911, Malcolm Shepherd ceased functioning as Personal Secretary to the Prime Minister but Fisher, Joseph Cook and William Morris Hughes each retained private secretaries after 1911 for at least part of their respective terms in office as Prime Minister. 

In most cases the Secretary of the Department was a career officer of the Department (Deane was the exception: he was previously Private Secretary). All of the Department's five Secretaries between the two World Wars envisaged the department primarily as an administrative element and only in some areas as a co-ordination or policy apparatus. Largely because they were reluctant to modify this conception, no systematic policy advice across the range of government responsibilities appears to have been tendered to the Prime Minister from his department in its early years, nor did it seek a general co-ordinating role. 

In the Administrative Arrangements of 22 September 1915 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 114, 22 September 1915), the Department gained responsibility for Historic Memorials, and the following new acts: 

. Committee of Public Accounts Act 1913
. Commonwealth Public Works Committee Act 1913-1914
. Meat Export Trade commission Act 1914
. Ministers of State Act 1915
 
The First World War brought a significant increase in the activities of the department. This was partly as a result of the exigencies of war administration and partly a response to the style of Prime Minister W M Hughes. The channel of communication function grew in importance and a war section was developed to deal specifically with war matters. 

In 1916, on the abolition of the Department of External Affairs [I], the Prime Minister's Department inherited the specific external relations functions: the High Commissioner's Office, London (CA 291) and the Commonwealth Solicitor, New Hebrides (CA 1947). These changes were officially notified in the Administrative Arrangements Order of 21 December 1916 (published in Commonwealth Gazette, No 188, 21 December 1916). The Prime Minister's Department gained responsibility for the following functions, from the Department of External Affairs [I]: 

 Consular appointments
 External Affairs
 High Commissioner
 Pacific Islands
 Passports
 Papua
 
In the same Administrative Arrangements Order, the Department gained responsibility for the following acts from the Department of External Affairs:
 
 High Commissioner Act 1909
 Papua Act 1903
 
The Department gained responsibility for the following new acts in this Administrative Arrangements Order:
 
 Australian Soldier's Repatriation Fund Act 1916
 Commonwealth Public Service (Acting Commissioner) Act 1916
 
Many boards and other organisations were established in 1916 and much of the initial administration or 'pioneering work' as J H Starling called it, had to be done in the Prime Minister's Department even though many of these authorities were subsequently administered by other departments. In 1916 responsibility for the Commonwealth Prices Adjustment Board (CA 112) was passed to the Department of Defence [I] (CA 6). In 1917, the Department of Repatriation [I] (CA 16) took over administration of the Australian Soldiers Repatriation Fund (CA 1439). 

Towards the end of the First World War a further increase in the functions of the department occurred, once again as a result of Hughes' interests and initiative. For example, various resources such as wheat, meat and minerals received his personal attention and by the end of the War he directly controlled wool sales to the British Government. 

In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 18 July 1918 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 105, 18 July 1918), the following changes to the Prime Minister's Department took place; it gained responsibility for the following functions:
 
 Commonwealth Government Line of Steamers
 Shipbuilding
 Control of Shipping
 Wool-sale of to British Government
 
The Department gained the following new Act:
 
 Commonwealth Public Works Committee Act 1917

Responsibility for the Papua Act 1905 was transferred to the Department of Home and Territories (CA 15).
 
In 1918 the Department lost the administration of the Australian Metals Exchange (CA 621) to the Attorney-General's Department (CA 5) and, in 1921, the administration of the Commonwealth solicitor, New Hebrides (CA 1947) passed to the Department of External Affairs [II]. In 1922, the Prime Minister's Department gained control of radio stations from the Department of Defence [III] (CA 19) but later in the same year this became the responsibility of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd. A Publicity and Intelligence Branch was founded in the department in 1921, the functions of which included publishing arrangements for the Commonwealth Gazette, collection and distribution of information about government departments, publicity for Australia abroad and press relations.

In 1919, following a Cabinet decision, Major E L Piesse (former Director of Military Intelligence) was appointed to the Prime Minister's Department to collect secret intelligence on external affairs, especially Far Eastern questions. He was formally appointed Director of the Pacific Branch on 20 June 1919. In April 1921, the Pacific Branch was expanded into a Foreign [Affairs] Section and given responsibility for League of Nations and Peace Treaty matters. The Section was effectively under the direction of Piesse, who was styled Director.

There were two branches of the Foreign Section, with the following functions:

Functions listed on 26 April 1921 for Foreign Section (Pacific [Branch])
All questions relating to the Pacific (incl East Asia and USA)
Japanese affairs including trends in public opinion
League of Nations obligations in regard to Mandated Territories (other than administration)
All matters connected with the White Australia Policy

Functions listed on 26 April 1921 for Foreign Section (General [Branch])
League of Nations (except Pacific) including International Labour Office
International arrangements, conventions, etc (incl Treaties)
Information trends of public opinion in foreign countries (except those dealt with by Pacific Branch)

In December 1921, Prime Minister W M Hughes created a Ministry of External Affairs, with a nominal Department, which, in practice, comprised the Foreign Section. (The Public Service Board, in 1923, recommended that it be called the Foreign Affairs Branch.)
 
When Stanley Melbourne Bruce succeeded Hughes as Prime Minister in 1923, a largely abortive effort was made to reduce and simplify the functions of the Prime Minister's Department. In general, during the inter-war years, the administrative responsibilities of the Department altered frequently.
 
The Administrative Arrangements Orders of 15 March 1923 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 19, 15 March 1923) set out the Prime Minister's Department responsibilities as follows:
 
 Principal matters dealt with-
 Administrative (Central)-
 (a) Channel of communication for all Departments with State,
 British, Dominion, and Foreign Governments, also Consuls in
 Australia 
 (b) Executive Council matters
 (c) Cabinet and Parliamentary arrangements
 (d) Arrangment of commonwealth functions, &c
 (e) Royal Commissions
 (f) Historic Memorials
 (g) Commonwealth Publicity, &c
 (h) Commonwealth Gazettes and Statutes 
Public Service matters, including administration Public Service
 Commissioner and Staff
 Auditor-General and Staff
 Immigration
 Commonwealth Shipbuilding
 Commonwealth Government Line of Steamers
 
Acts administered:
 
 Committee of Public Accounts Act 1913-1920
 Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1918
 Commonwealth Public Service (Acting Commissioner) Act 1916
 Commonwealth Public Works Committee Act 1913-1914
 Commonwealth Salaries Act 1907
 Oil Agreement Act 1920
 Petherick Collection Act 1911
 Royal Commissions Act 1902-1912
 War Precautions Act Repeal Act 1920-1922

The Department gained responsibility for Immigration from the 
Department of Home and Territories (CA 15) and lost the following Act to the Attorney-Generals Department (CA 5):

 Arbitration (Public Service) Act
 
The Department gained responsibility for certain sections of the War Precautions Act Repeal Act 1920-1922 from the Department of Defence. The assisted migration programme from the United Kingdom was inaugurated in 1921 and an Immigration Branch established. This branch passed temporarily into the Department of Markets and Migration in 1925-1926 but returned to the Prime Minister's jurisdiction in 1927 through the Development and Migration Commission. It finally left this portfolio for the Department of Transport [I] (CA 26) in 1930. In 1923 the control of the High Commissioner's Office London (CA 291) was transferred to the Department of External Affairs [II] (CA 18) and the Expropriation Board to the Treasury (CA 11).
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 2 July 1925 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 53, 2 July 1925) the Prime Minister's Department gained responsibility for the Australian Commonwealth Shipping Board and relations with Commonwealth Oil Refineries. 
The Department gained the associated new acts-
 
 Oil Agreement Act 1924
 Commonwealth Shipping Act 1923
 
Various other responsibilities were either initiated by or devolved upon the Prime Minister's Department during the inter-war years. In 1928, the Territories Branch (CA 804) was set up on the disbanding of the Department of Home and Territories, and Papua, New Guinea, Norfolk Island and Nauru were all administered through this agency for thirteen years, after which the Branch was transferred into the Department of External Territories in 1941. 

During this period the Commonwealth Grants Commission, the Commonwealth Oil Refineries, the British Phosphate Commissioners, the Commonwealth Literary Fund, the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Employment and the (Economic) Development Branch were all attached to the Prime Minister's Department. 

The Development Branch originated in the Development and Migration Commission and its 42 officers were transferred to the Prime Minister's Department when the Commission was abolished. The principal function of the branch was to conduct specific investigations into the economics of existing and projected new industries but under Scullin more general advice was solicited. The Branch was based in Melbourne and not transferred to Canberra until 1935. The Branch ceased to operate in its broader role on the move to Canberra and its functions were finally transferred to the Department of Supply and Development in 1939.
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 15 December 1928, (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 139, 15 December 1928) several changes took place. The Department gained the responsibility for Territories from the Department of Home and Territories, as mentioned above. This involved the transfer of the following acts-
 
 Papua Act 1905-1924
 Norfolk Island Act 1913
 New Guinea Act 1920-1926
 Nauru Island Agreement Act 1919
 
In the same order, the Department became responsible for Science and industry, and gained the following:
 
 Science and Industry Endowment Act 1926
 Science and Industry Research Act 1920-1926
 
The Prime Minister's Department also regained responsibility for migration, from the Department of Markets and Migration (CA 20) and thus became responsible for the Development and Migration Act 1926.
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 14 April 1932 the Prime Minister's Department became responsible for:
 
 British Phosphate Commissioners
 Premiers' Conferences
 Prisoners' from territories
 Shipping services
 
The responsibility for prisoners from territories, together with the Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923 was inherited from the abolished Department of Home Affairs [II] (CA 24). Responsibility for Shipping services was inherited from the abolished Department of Transport [I] (CA 26).
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 14 August 1936 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 67, 14 August 1936) the Prime Minister's Department gained the Principal matters:
 
 Industrial research
 Ashmore and Cartier Islands

In addition, it gained the following acts:

 Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933
 Cockatoo Island Dockyard Agreement Act 1933
 Commonwealth Grants Commission Act 1933
 Geophysical Survey Act 1928
 Migrant Settlement Agreement Act 1933
 Northern Australia Survey Act 1934
 Officers Rights Declaration Act 1928-1933
 Petrol Commission Act 1933
 Special Annuity Acts 1923, 1934, 1935
 Wheat Commission Act 1935
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 6 April 1939 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 18, 6 April 1939) the Prime Minister's Department gained responsibility for the Commonwealth Literary Fund from the Department of the Interior [I] (CA 27). The Department also gained the following acts:
 
 New Guinea Loan Guarantee Act 1938
 Parliamentary Salaries Adjustment Act 1938
 Science and Industry Research Appropriation Act 1938
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 30 November 1939 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 153, 30 November 1939) the Department gained the National Oil Proprietary Limited Agreement Act 1937 and lost the Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933 to the Department of the Interior [II] (CA 31).

On 26 June 1941 (Commonwealth Gazette No 125, 26 June 1941) the Department of External Territories (CA 42) was established. Transfer of the following acts from the Prime Minister's Department to this new department was notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 52, 14 March 1947: 

 Nauru Island Agreement Act 1932
 New Guinea Act 1920-1935
 New Guinea Loan Guarantee Act 1938
 Norfolk Island Act 1913-1935
 Papua Act 1905-1940
 Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923-1935 
 
The Department of Supply and Shipping (CA 47) was established on 17 October 1942, (Commonwealth Gazette No 278, 19 October 1942). The transfer of the following acts to this Department was notified in 
Commonwealth Gazette No 52, 14 March 1947:
 
 Geophysical Survey Act 1928
 National Oil Propriety Agreement Act 1937
 Northern Australia Survey Act 1934
 
In the same Administrative Arrangements Order of 14 March 1947, the Prime Minister's Department lost the following act to the Department of the Interior [II] (CA 31):
 
 Cockatoo Island Dockyard Agreement Act 1933
 
In the same order, the Prime Minister's Department gained responsibility for provisional arrangements for archives, the Art Advisory Board and the Cabinet Secretariat. The Department also gained the following act - Defence (Transitional Provisions) Act 1946, insofar as it relates to National Security Regulations 120.
 
It appears that responsibility for radio research passed to the Department of the Interior [II] in 1946, although this is subject to further research.
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 13 May 1948 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 76, 13 May 1948), the Prime Minister's Department gained the following act:

 Salaries (Statutory Offices) Adjustment Act) 1947

In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 19 May 1949 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 34, 19 May 1949), the following acts were transferred to the Department of Post-War Reconstruction (CA 49): 

 Science and Industry Endowment Act 1926
 Science and Industry Research Act 1949
 
During these years the Prime Minister's Department appears to have provided policy advice only sporadically and mainly on specific matters where it was given primary responsibility because of the interests of individual Prime Ministers. The beginnings of a change in role can be perceived in the transfer of several functions from the former Department of Post-War Reconstruction in 1950.
 
The Administrative Arrangements Order of 12 January 1950 (Commonwealth Gazette No 3, 12 January 1950) notified these changes. The Prime Minister's Department gained responsibility for the following acts:

 Science and Industry Endowment Act 1926
 Science and Industry Research Act 1949

Commonwealth Offices of Education also became the Department's responsibility and the following acts were also inherited:

 Commonwealth Education Act 1945
 National University Act 1946
 Defence (Transitional Provisions) Act 1946-1949
 
The same Order also notified the transfer of responsibility for the Commonwealth's interest in regional and industrial development, from the Department of the Interior [II]. The following act was transferred: 

 Section 63 of the Lands Acquisition Act 1906-1936 

On 23 November 1950, responsibility for Section 63 of the Lands Acquisition Act was transferred to the Department of National Development [I] (CA 56) (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No.71, 23 November 1950.) In late 1949, the Secretary, Allan Brown, formerly Director-General of Post-War Reconstruction, obtained several new positions for his department. A Public Service Board memorandum of November 1949 made the following comment:
 
 "He [Allan Brown] considered that the time had passed when the 
 Department should be regarded as merely a channel of
 communication". 

After some negotiating the Public Service Board finally agreed to the establishment of an Economic Policy and Research Section (transferred from the Department of Post-War Reconstruction (CA 49). This was the first specialised policy area to be established within the Department. The Public Service Board's eventual acceptance of the arguments concerning the validity of the Department's broader co-ordinating and overseering role opened the way for the Department to assume, in later years, a more central role in co-ordination and policy formulation.
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 24 April 1958 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 25, 24 April 1958) the Prime Minister's Department gained responsibility for the following functions: 

 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization

In addition, it gained the following acts:
 
 Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1948
 Flags Act 1953-1954
 The High Commissioner (United Kingdom) Act 1909-1957
 Re-establishment and Employment Act 1945-1956
 Royal Commissions Act 1954
 Royal Powers Act 1953
 Royal Style and Titles Act 1947, 1953
 States Grants (Universities) Acts
 Royal Commission on Espionage Act 1954
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 23 March 1961 (notified in the Commonwealth Gazette No.28, 23 March 1961) the Prime Minister's Department gained the following acts:
 
 Australian Universities Commission Act 1959
 National Library Act 1960
 
In 1963 the International Training Centre was transferred to the Department of External Affairs [II] (CA 18).
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 17 January 1964 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 7, 17 January 1964) the Prime Minister's Department gained the:
 
 Universities (Financial Assistance) Act 1963
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 21 January 1965 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No.8, 21 January 1965) the Prime Minister's Department gained responsibility for the following acts:
 
 Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Act 1964
 States Grants (Science Laboratories and Technical Training) Act 
 1964 

In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 5 November 1965 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 87, 5 November 1965) the Prime Minister's Department gained responsibility for the following acts:
 
 Parliamentary Presiding Officers Act 1965
 States Grants (Science Laboratories) Act 1965
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 13 December 1966 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 103A, 13 December 1966) the responsibility for education and scientific research was transferred to the Department of Education and Science (CA 1196), along with the following acts:

 Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Act 1964-1966
 Australian National University Act 1964-1966
 Australian Universities Commission Act 1959-1965
 Education Act 1945-1966
 Re-establishment and Employment Act 1945-1966
 Science and Industry Endowment Act 1926-1949
 Science and Industry Research Act 1949-1966
 States Grants (Science Laboratories) Act 1965-1966
 States Grants (Science Laboratories and Technical Training) Act
 1964 
 States Grants (Technical Training) Act 1965-1966
 States Grants (Universities) Act
 Universities (Financial Assistance) Acts
 Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1966
 
In the same Administrative Arrangements Order, the Prime Minister's Department gained responsibility for the support of the arts. 

There were several administrative changes that affected the Prime Minister's Department during 1968. In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 12 March 1968 (Commonwealth Gazette No 22A, 12 March 1968) the Prime Minister's Department lost responsibility for the Secretariat to Cabinet Committees to the new Department of the Cabinet Office (CA 1285). In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 16 May 1968 (Commonwealth Gazette No 45, 16 May 1968) the Prime Minister's Department gained the following act from the Department of the Treasury (CA 11). Commonwealth Employees' Furlough Act 1943-1967
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 23 December 1968 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 109, 23 December 1968) the Prime Minister's Department gained responsibility for Aboriginal affairs from the Department of Education and Science, along with the following acts:

 Aboriginal Enterprises (Assistance) Act 1968
 Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Act 1964
 State Grants (Aboriginal Advancement) Act 1968
 State Grants (Aboriginal Advancement) Act 1969
 
Thus, new policy areas gained during the 1960's included Aboriginal Affairs and a broad range of arts responsibilities including the Australian Council for the Arts, the National Gallery and the Interim Council for a National Film and Television School.

The primary function of the Department continued to be one of providing advice and guidance to the Prime Minister and the government on the whole range of Commonwealth activities: policy issues and government relations internationally with State governments, with interest groups and individuals. A central thread was the requirement that the Department advise the Prime Minister on all submissions coming to Cabinet.
 
By 17 April 1970 the Prime Minister's Department was responsible for the following functions:
 
 Secretariat to the Executive Council
 Communications between the Commonwealth and State Governments 
 High Commissioner's Office London 
 Communications with the British Government
 Aboriginal Affairs
 Support for the Arts
 National Archives
 Government hospitality and State ceremonial
 
It administered the following legislation:
 
 Aboriginal Enterprises (Assistant) Act 1968
 Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Act 1964-1966
 Commonwealth Employees' Furlough Act 1943-1968
 Commonwealth Grants Commission Act 1933-1966
 Commonwealth Salaries Act 1907
 Flags Act 1953-1954
 High Commissioner (United Kingdom) Act 1909-1966
 Minister of State Act 1952-1968
 National Library Act 1960-1967
 Officers' Rights Declaration Act 1928-1969
 Parliamentary Allowances Act 1952-1968
 Parliamentary Presiding Officers Act 1956
 Public Accounts Committee Act 1951-1966
 Public Service Act 1922-1968
 Public Works Committee Act 1969
 Royal Commissions Act 1962-1966
 Royal Powers Act 1953
 Royal Style and Titles Act 1953
 Salaries Act 1968
 Special Annuity Acts
 States Grants (Aboriginal Advancement) Act 1968-1969
 States Grants (Aboriginal Advancement) Act 1969
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 18 January 1971 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette No 4, 18 January, 1971) the Prime Minister's Department gained responsibility for Honours, awards and Royal Charters, as well as the following act:
 
 Australian Film Development Corporation Acts 1970
 
On 12 March 1971, the Prime Minister's Department was abolished by Executive Council Minute No 10 (Prime Minister's Minute No 14). It was replaced by an amalgamation of this department and the Department of the Cabinet Office (CA 1285) to form the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (CA 1401). The control of Aboriginal Affairs, National Library, Archives and Government Printing was transferred to the Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council [I] (CA 1402). All other functions were inherited by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
 
The following were Prime Ministers during the existence of the Prime Minister's Department:
 
 1 Jul 1911 - 24 Jun 1913 : Hon Andrew Fisher (CP 713)
24 Jun 1913 - 17 Sep 1914 : Hon Joseph Cook (CP 611)
17 Sep 1914 - 27 Oct 1915 : Hon Andrew Fisher (CP 713)
27 Oct 1915 -  9 Feb 1923 : Hon William Morris Hughes (CP 290) 
 9 Feb 1923 - 22 Oct 1929 : Hon Stanley Melbourne Bruce (CP 23) 
22 Oct 1929 -  6 Jan 1932 : Hon John Henry Scullin (CP 63)
 6 Jan 1932 -  7 Apr 1939 : Hon Joseph Aloysius Lyons (CP 254)
 7 Apr 1939 - 26 Apr 1939 : Hon Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page 
26 Apr 1939 - 29 Aug 1941 : Hon Robert Gordon Menzies (CP 54) 
29 Aug 1941 -  7 Oct 1941 : Hon Arthur William Fadden (CP 714
 7 Oct 1941 -  5 Jul 1945 : Hon John Curtin (CP 258)
 6 Jul 1945 - 13 Jul 1945 : Hon Francis Michael Forde (CP 81) 
13 Jul 1945 - 19 Dec 1949 : Hon Joseph Benedict Chifley (CP 268) 
19 Dec 1949 - 26 Jan 1966 : Hon Robert Gordon Menzies (CP 54)
26 Jan 1966 - 19 Dec 1967 : Hon Harold Edward Holt (CP 27)
19 Dec 1967 - 10 Jan 1968 : Hon John McEwen (CP 47)
10 Jan 1968 - 10 Mar 1971 : Hon John Grey Gorton (CP 136)
 
The Secretaries to the Prime Minister's Department were:

 1 Jan 1912 - 27 Jan 1921 : Malcolm Lindsay Shepherd, CMG, ISO (CP 25) 
11 Feb 1921 - 31 Dec 1928 : Percy Edgar Deane, CMG (CP 78)
 1 Jan 1929 -  2 Mar 1933 : Sir John G McLaren, CMG (CP 174) 
 3 Mar 1933 - 10 Nov 1935 : John Henry Starling, CMG OBE (CP 28) 
11 Nov 1935 - 24 Aug 1949 : Frank Strahan, CVO, CBE
25 Aug 1949 - 31 Dec 1958 : Sir Allen Stanley Brown, CBE
 1 Jan 1959 - 10 Mar 1968 : Sir John E Bunting, CBE (CP 91) 
11 Mar 1968 - 12 Mar 1971 : Sir Lenox Hewitt, CS, OBE

Historical agency address
  1911-by1936: Commonwealth Offices, Treasury Gardens, Melbourne
by1936-by1950: Commonwealth Offices, West Block, Canberra
by1950-  1971: Commonwealth Offices, East Block, Canberra

Legislation administered:
Creation: Executive Council Minute No.53 (Prime Minister's Minute No.14) of 28 Dec.1911
Abolition: Executive Council Minute No.10 (Prime Minister's Minute No.14) of 12 Mar.1971