The office of the Director of National Mapping within the Department of National Development was created by Executive Council Minute of 2 August 1956 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 47 of 16 August 1956). The same minute also created other offices within the division equal to the equivalent positions abolished in the Department of the Interior [II], National Mapping Section (CA 1227). This Section had been established in 1951 and was transferred to National Development on 2 July 1956.
 
The Division was responsible for geodesy and medium and small scale topographic mapping required for Commonwealth purposes, for
co-ordinating these activities with those of the States, for making bathymetric and thematic maps of Australia and its territories, for providing technical advice on international maritime boundaries, for provision of an astronomical time service for Australia, for the sale of maps and air photographs and for the provision of reproduction material and digital data used in map making.
 
For greater detail as to the functions performed by each Branch of the Survey, Cartographic and Topographic Groups, see Commonwealth Government Directory, Vol 2, FOI statements, March 1983 - Resources and Energy Portfolio. The Topographic Group is located in Dandenong, Victoria.
 
The Director of National Mapping was Chairman of the National Mapping Council of Australia, established by Federal-State agreement in 1945. This was a consultative body on the standardisation and co-ordination of geodesy and topographic mapping in Australia. The NMC was supported by two sub-committees, the Technical Subcomittee of technical representatives of each of the mapping organizations on the NMC; and the Permanent Committee on Tides and Mean Sea Level.
 
Due to the administrative change of July 1987, the Division of National Mapping was amalgamated with the Australian Survey Office and is now known as Department of Administrative Services Survey and Land Information Group.
Historical agency address
1956-1961: Canberra 
1962-1972: Derwent House, University Avenue, Canberra City ACT
1972-1975: AMP Building, Hobart Place, Canberra City ACT
1975-1981: Morriset House, Queanbeyan NSW
1981-1987: Unit 3, Cameron Offices, Belconnen ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Minute No. 27 (Department of National Development Minute No. 25) of August 1956.