The Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services was established on 24 March 1993 pursuant to Executive Council Minute No 5 of that date (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No S 91, 24 March 1993).
 
The Department inherited all matters and legislation from the abolished Department of Health, Housing and Community Services (CA 7297), and also gained local government matters from the abolished Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (CA 5988).
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 24 March 1993 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No S 91, 24 March 1993) the Matters dealt with by the Department were listed as:
 
 . Services for the aged, people with disabilities and families 
   with children
 . Community support services
 . Housing
 . Public health and medical research
 . Health promotion and disease prevention
 . Pharmaceutical benefits
 . Health benefits schemes
 . Specific health services, including human quarantine
 . National drug abuse strategy
 . Matters relating to local government.
 
Legislation administered by the Minister was listed as:
 
 Aged or Disabled Persons Care Act 1954
 Aged or Disabled Persons Hostels Act 1972
 Albury-Wodonga Development Act 1973
 Albury-Wodonga Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1973
 Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act
  1988, except to the extent administered by the Minister for the
  Arts and Administrative Services
 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Act 1987
 Child Care Act 1972
 Commonwealth and State Housing Agreement Acts
 Commonwealth Serum Laboratories Act 1961
 Defence (Re-establishment) Act 1965, Parts V and VA (and section 59
  in respect of powers and functions under Parts V and VA), except in
  relation to payments to individuals
 Delivered Meals Subsidy Act 1970
 Disability Services Act 1986
 Disability Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential   
  Amendments) Act 1986
 Epidemiological Studies (Confidentiality) Act 1981
 First Home Owners Act 1983
 Growth Centres (Financial Assistance) Act 1973
 Handicapped Persons Assistance Act 1974
 Health Insurance Act 1973
 Health Insurance Commission Act 1973
 Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) Act 1991
 Health Insurance (Pathology) (Licence Fee) Act 1991
 Hearing Services Act 1991
 Home and Community Care Act 1985
 Home Deposit Assistance Act 1982
 Homeless Persons Assistance Act 1974
 Home Nursing Subsidy Act 1956
 Home Savings Grants Acts
 Housing Agreements Acts
 Housing Assistance Acts
 Lands Commissions (Financial Assistance) Act 1973
 Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1986
 Medical Research Endowment Act 1937
 Medicare Agreements Act 1992
 Narcotic Drugs Act 1967, sections 9, 10, 11, 13, 19 and 23 and   
  sub-section 24(1), and so much of the remaining provisions of the
  Act (other than sections 12 and 22 and sub-section 24(2)) as
  relates to powers and functions under those sections
 National Food Authority Act 1991
 National Health Act 1953
 National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992
 Nursing Homes Assistance Act 1974
 Quarantine Act 1908, in relation to human quarantine
 Quarantine (Validation of Fees) Act 1985, in relation to human   
  quarantine
 Re-establishment and Employment Act 1945, Part VIII; Division 1 of 
  Part XI insofar as it extends Part VIII; Division 3 of Part XI
  except in relation to payments to individuals; and Part XII insofar
  as it applies or may be applied to the foregoing
 Social Welfare Commission (Repeal) Act 1976
 States Grants (Home Care) Act 1969
 States Grants (Housing) Act 1971
 States Grants (Nurse Education Transfer Assistance) Act 1985    
 States Grants (Paramedical Services) Act 1969
 Supported Accommodation Assistance Acts
 Tasmania Agreement (Launceston Precision Tool Annexe) Act 1980  
 Temple Society Trust Fund Act 1949
 Therapeutic Goods Act 1989
 Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Act 1989
 Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992
 Tuberculosis Act 1948
 Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974,   
  except to the extent administered by the Minister for the 
  Environment, Sport and Territories
 World Health Organisation Act 1947.
 
In addition, the Hon Brian Howe, Deputy Prime Minister, had
particular responsibility for locational disadvantage studies, which were with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (CA 1401), as well as responsibility for the National Capital Planning Authority.
  
The Department underwent a name change and was abolished as a result of the Administrative Arrangements Order of 23 December 1993 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No GN 1, 12 January 1994). It was replaced by the Department of Human Services and Health, Central Office (CA 7853).  
 
The Department had two Cabinet Ministers with the portfolio divided as follows:
 
Minister for Health
 
24 Mar 1993 - 23 Dec 1993  : Senator the Hon Graham Richardson  
  
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Services  

24 Mar 1993 - 23 Dec 1993  : Hon Brian Howe
 
 
The Secretary of the Department was:
 
24 Mar 1993 - 23 Dec 1993  : A S Cole
 
 
Sources

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No S 91, 24 March 1993
Press Release by the Prime Minister, 24 March 1993
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No GN 1, 12 January 1994

Note that the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra published "Putting Life into Years: The Commonwealth's Role in Australia's Health since 1901" in 2001.

Historical agency address

Alexander, Albemarle Buildings and Penrhyn House, Phillip ACT

Legislation administered

Creation: Executive Council Minute No. 5, 24 March 1993 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S91, 24 March 1993)
Abolition: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. GN 1, 12 January 1994