The Department of National Development [I] was created on 16 March 1950 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette, No 15, 17 March 1950). It was established for the purposes of planning and co-ordinating the development of natural resources on a national basis.
 
On establishment the Department's major functions were:
 
 Survey of immediate shortages in basic commodities and planning of 
 improvements by increased production or import
 
 Promotion of decentralisation and regional development throughout
 the Commonwealth and the Territories of the Commonwealth
 
 Surveys of natural resources and development
 
 Planning the development of national resources generally, and in 
 particular the development of primary and manufacturing industries 
 and the stimulation of housing and building construction
 
 Administration of Commonwealth-State Housing Agreements
 
 Development planning in conjunction with the various States and,
 where necessary, co-ordination of such development planning,
 including the investigation of such national works as are referred
 to the Department by the Government
 
 In conjunction with Treasury and other interested Departments, to
 make arrangements with the respective States and Other Governmental
 authorities with regard to the cost and execution of development
 projects
 
 To control funds required for the approved programme of development 
 work.
 
 
The Acts administered were:
 
 Section 63 of the Lands Acquisition Act 1906-1936 insofar as it
  relates to the disposal to private industry of land acquired or
  used by the Commonwealth in connection with the defence of
  Commonwealth.  
 Northern Australia Survey Act 1934
 Geophysical Survey Act 1928
 Precious Metals Prospecting Act 1926
 Petroleum Oil Search Act 1936 (No.2)
 Petroleum Oil Search Act 1940
 Petroleum Oil Search Act 1941
 Petroleum Oil Search Act 1936
 Petroleum Prospecting Act 1926-1927
 Petroleum Prospecting Act 1928
 
The principal predecessor agency was the Department of Supply and Development [II] (CA 54) from which came responsibility for mineral resources, geology and geophysics. Responsibility for housing and building construction was inherited from the Department of Works and Housing (CA 52) in the form of the Housing Division. However the Department of Works and Housing retained control of planning and construction of Government projects, housing finance and town planning. The Divisions of Industrial Development and Regional Planning were transferred to the Department of National Development [I] from the Prime Minister's Department and the Regional Planning Division was renamed the Division of Regional Development. On 17 March 1950 the Department established an Administrative Division. On 6 July 1950 a new division of Development Policy was created within the Department.
 
On 3 October 1950 responsibility for the Commonwealth Experimental Building Station, which the Department of National Development [I] had held since its inception, was transferred to the Department of Works and Housing (CA 52). The Division of Fuel within the Department was established following the acquisition of responsibility for the Fuel Branch of the Department of Fuel, Shipping and Transport (CA 55) in July 1951 (1).
 
The period 1951-1952 was marked by budgetary costs and cuts in Public Service staffing and as a result of this, in November 1951, the Housing Division, which had become known as the Building Industry in January 1951, ceased to be a division and became known as the Building Industry Section of the Division of Development Policy. Continuing staffing and financial problems led to discussion as to whether the Department itself might be abolished. While this was averted, a further re-organisation took place. In September 1952, the Division of Development Policy and the Division of Regional Development ceased to function as separate divisions and were merged into the Central administration of the Department.
 
Further changes took place in 1956. The Division of Industrial Development was transferred to the new Department of Trade (CA 64) on 1 March, except for the materials handling function. On 22 April, the War Service Homes Division of the Department of Social Services, was acquired and remained the responsibility of the Department until it and the Housing and Building Industry Branch were transferred to the Department of Housing (CA 65) on 17 December 1963 (2). The National Mapping organisation of the Department of the Interior [II] (CA 31) was transferred to the Department on 2 July 1956 and became the Division of National Mapping.
 
The Commonwealth Mica Pool organisation and the Dorset Tin Dredge project were transferred from the Department of Supply (CA 57) on 2 January 1957. The Commonwealth Mica Pool Organisation operated under a committee of management appointed by the Minister for National Development.  Shortly after this the Dorset Tin Dredge Project was sold by tender to a private operator.
 
In 1964, with the transfer of the Forest and Timber Bureau Act 1930-1953 from the Department of the Interior [II] (CA 31) the Prime Minister spoke of the Department in these terms:
 
 "I am convinced that the major administrative responsibilities of 
 the Department of National Development should be the assessment and
 development of Australia's significant natural resources. The
 evolution of the functions of the Department has, in fact, been in
 this direction and other functions, such as Industrial Development,
 Housing and War Service Homes have been shed, leaving it essentially
 a resources department".
 
During his election policy speech in 1963 the Prime Minister announced that his government proposed to set up a Northern Division within the Department. At a meeting with the Premiers of Western Australia and Queensland in May 1964 agreement was reached about the role of the new division. It was to be responsible for examining broad questions of policy which need special consideration, advising the relevant States on proposals submitted to the Federal Government, for keeping under review the resources of Northern Australia and for publishing reports and other data relevant to these resources and their development. In 1964, responsibility for certain aspects of petroleum exploration was inherited  by the Department of the Interior [II] (CA 31) and the Department of External Territories [II] (CA 1284).
 
At the time of its abolition in 1972, the Department of National Development [I] was the principal department with responsibility for the formulation of policy concerning the assessment and development of Australia's natural resources, particularly in the fields of minerals, water, forests and energy. It was the central authority responsible for the geodetic survey and topographic mapping of Australia and for bathymetric survey of the continental shelf. It was responsible for the co-ordination of the development of Northern Australia.
 
Through the minister, the Department had links with the Australian Atomic Energy Commission, the Joint Coal Board, the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority and the Snowy Mountains Engineering
Corporation. Links with the States were maintained through the Australian Water Resources Council, the Australian Forestry Council and the Australian Mineral Council (3).
 
There were six divisions by 1972: Resources Policy, Management Services, Northern Division, National Mapping, Bureau of Mineral Resources and Forestry and Timber Bureau. Branch Offices existed in New South Wales and Victoria; while in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania the Department was represented by the Regional Director, Department of Supply (4).
 
In London and Tokyo, officers of the Department were seconded to the Australian Trade Commission Service in the position of Trade
Commissioner (Minerals).
 
The Department was abolished on 19 December 1972 by Executive Council Minute (Public Service Board Minute No. 47) (5), and its functions were shared amongst five departments: natural resources went to the Department of Minerals and Energy (CA 1482); forestry was inherited by the Department of Primary Industry [I] (CA 63); water resources went to the Department of Environment and Conservation (CA 1479); northern development went to the Department of Northern Development (CA 1482); and engineering and the Snowy Mountains were inherited by the Department of Works [III] (CA 61).
 
The following people were appointed to the position of Minister:

17 Mar 1950 - 11 May 1951  : Rt Hon Richard Gardiner Casey (CP 24) 
11 May 1951 - 10 Jun 1964  : Sen the Hon Sir William Henry
                             Spooner (CP 246)
19 Jun 1964 - 12 Nov 1969  : Hon David Eric Fairbairn (CP 124) 
12 Nov 1969 -  5 Dec 1972  : Hon Sir Reginald William Colin
                             Swartz (CP 68)
 5 Dec 1972 - 19 Dec 1972  : Hon Lance Herbert Barnard (CP 94) (6) 

Permanent Heads of the Department of National Development [I] were:
  
17 Mar 1950 - 30 Sep 1950  : Sir R G A Jackson
 1 Oct 1950 - 10 May 1951  : Sir E Stevens 
 2 Jun 1951 - 15 Jul 1951  : Sir R G A Jackson 
16 Jul 1951 - 24 Jan 1965  : Sir H G Raggatt 
25 Jan 1965 - 30 Sep 1969  : R W Boswell
 1 Oct 1969 - 19 Dec 1972  : L F Bott
 
 
References
 
1. Commonwealth Gazette No 46, 2 July 1951, p 12
2. Notified in Commonwealth Gazette No.7, 17 January 1964
3. Annual Report of the Department of National Development, 1970
   -1971.  Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper No 169, 1971, p 1.
4. Ibid
5. Commonwealth Gazette No 129A, 19 December 1972
6. C Hughes and B D Graham, A Handbook of Australian Government and 
   Policies, ANU Press, Canberra 1968
7. Public Service Board Annual Report 1973, pp 122-125

 
Additional Sources
 
1. Federal Guides 1950 (p 8);  1951 (p 133);  1955 (p 138); 1957 
   (p 155);  & 1972 (p 179)
Historical agency address
1950-1951: Wentworth House, 203 Collins Street, Melbourne
1951-1953: 37 Queen Street, Melbourne
1953-1957: Acton, Canberra
1957-1965: Parkes, Canberra
1965-1972: Tasman House, 26-30 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra City
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Meeting No. 11 (PM's Dept. Minute No.29) of 16 Mar 1950 
Abolition: Executive Council Minute (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No.129A, 19 Dec 1972)