It was one of seven Departments of State to be established at federation.
The first Administrative Arrangements Order, issued 1901, outlined the functions of the Department:[2] The Department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for External Affairs.
[1] The Prime Minister's Office was attached to the Department of External Affairs until 1909.
[3] The Secretary of the Department was Atlee Hunt.
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