It was first established in 1919 in the Nationalist ministry of William Holman, with the principal responsibility being the provision of housing for the poor.

[1][2] It was established in the Second Baird ministry and largely shared responsibility with the Minister for Family and Community Services.

[9] It became a separate ministry in the second McKell ministry and in addition to housing schemes for the poor the portfolio was responsible for a range of leasing and title bodies including rent control, landlord and tenant issues and strata title.

In 2011 with the formation of the O'Farrell ministry housing was absorbed into the portfolio of Family and Community Services.

The portfolio was re-established in 2021 in the Second Perrottet ministry as the Minister for Homes, in the Planning, Industry and Environment cluster.