It was created on the initiative of Interior Minister José Victorino Lastarria, who wanted a formal means of regulating the publication of official documents.

In 1880 Becerra was replaced by Guillermo Blest Gana, who was succeeded by Alcibiades Roldán (1884–1891), Carlos Emeterio Cerda (1891–1912) and Honorario Henriquez Perez (1912–1926).

Taking advantage of this situation, an opposition newspaper named Official Journal of the True Government (Spanish: El Diario Oficial del Verdadero Gobierno) was published.

On 27 August 2013, administration of the Official Journal passed to the Chilean Ministry of the Interior and its central office moved to 511 Dr. Torres Boonen St., in the commune of Providencia.

The Official Journal also publishes calls for public bids, extracts from the deeds of incorporation, minutes of annual general meetings, and balance sheets of the Central Bank.