Agency:
Department of Public Health
Agency Number:
Start Date:
06 Jan 1904
End Date:
01 Aug 1956
Description:
The Department replaced an under-funded Board and was charged with preventing deterioration of public health by controlling sanitary works, preventing the pollution of water courses, the adulteration of food and drugs and the sale of unsound food. It controlled local boards of health until their absorption by local government in 1907 and thereafter provided guidance and supervision to local health officers in municipalities. It was not, however, able to enforce action by municipalities until the Public Health Act was amended in 1929. As so often in public health matters, Parliament legislated a solution but not the funds to pay for it. The staff appointed in 1904 comprised the director, a part-time secretary, 3 clerks and 3 caretakers (for the depots maintained as potential quarantine stations or isolation hospitals). Health inspectors were not appointed until 1906. In 1906 the first Medical Officers were also appointed for schools. They were placed on the estimates of the Education Department but had links to the Public Health Department.;;On 1 January 1939 these medical inspectors and the school nurses were formally trransferred to the PHD as the School Medical Service. The Department acted as the Tasmanian agent for the Commonwealth Health Laboratory and administered the Commonwealth Quarantine Act until the end of June 1929. (The State Quarantine Act remained in force but was in abeyance due to the division of powers under the federal constitution.) Maternity and child welfare remained largely the province of voluntary associations with limited assistance from the Department prior to WW2.;;The Department had a loose internal structure until late 1945 when the Public Service Commissioner made a number of recommendations for the reorganisation of the Public service to prepare for post-War activity. In the case of the Public Health Department this involved the establishment of a divisional structure to replace the existing amorphous groupings such as "inspectors". The Department's inspectors were also inspectors under the Places of Public Entertainment Act and so from 1917 the Department also included the Picture Censor Board until its abolition (some time after 1924). The inspectors were also responsible for factory legislation from 1910 until the establishment of the Industrial Department in 1916 and again between 1930 and 1940. This latter was apparently one of numerous economy measures introduced during the Depression.;;Ministerial control in this health area continued to be exercised by the Chief Secretary until 1934 when the first Ministerial portfolio was established for Health.
Legislation Administered:
Public Health Act 1903
Legislation Creating:
Public Health Act 1903 (3Edw.VII No.37)
Functions Performed:
Health care
Controlled Agencies:
Royal Derwent Hospital (TA465) | 01 Jan 1827 | 30 Nov 2000 |
Launceston Home for Invalids (TA1911) | 31 May 1913 | 10 Mar 1954 |
Hobart Public Hospitals District Board (TA959) | 29 May 1919 | 01 Jul 1991 |
Launceston Public Hospitals District Board (TA961) | 29 May 1919 | 01 Jul 1991 |
Scottsdale Public Hospitals District Board (TA937) | 19 Feb 1921 | 11 Jun 1929 |
District Nursing Service (Bush Nursing Association) (TA1110) | 01 Jan 1922 | 31 Dec 1968 |
Devon Public Hospitals District Board (TA940) | 24 Jul 1925 | 10 Jan 1958 |
Nurses Registration Board (TA198) | 01 Jan 1927 | 31 Dec 1987 |
Government Analyst's Branch (TA750) | 01 Jul 1935 | 31 Dec 1957 |
Spencer Public Hospitals District Board (TA939) | 11 Apr 1929 | 26 Jul 1951 |
Scottsdale and Ringarooma Public Hospitals District Board (TA938) | 11 Jun 1929 | 01 Jul 1990 |
Industrial Section (TA18) | 01 Jan 1930 | 31 Dec 1940 |
Millbrook Home Board (TA154) | 12 Dec 1933 | 01 Jul 1968 |
Ouse District Hospital (TA455) | 01 Jan 1938 | 31 Dec 2006 |
Tuberculosis Division (TA679) | 01 Aug 1945 | 31 Dec 1976 |
Campbell Town and Ross Public Hospitals District Board (TA947) | 06 Sep 1945 | 19 Jun 1990 |
Division of Mental Hygiene (TA11) | 01 Dec 1945 | 31 Dec 1956 |
Public Health Division (TA751) | 07 Dec 1945 | 03 Feb 1993 |
Hospital and Medical Services Division (TA755) | 07 Dec 1945 | 31 Dec 1990 |
Queenstown Public Hospitals District Board (TA956) | 06 Mar 1946 | 27 Sep 1983 |
Zeehan Public Hospitals District Board (TA949) | 22 Mar 1946 | 10 Dec 1970 |
King Island Public Hospitals District Board (TA950) | 12 Sep 1946 | 19 Jun 1990 |
Evandale Hospital (TA2187) | 01 Jan 1947 | 31 Dec 1979 |
St Helens District Nursing Hospital (TA457) | 01 Jan 1948 |
Huon Public Hospitals District Board (TA948) | 21 May 1948 | 19 Jun 1990 |
New Norfolk Public Hospitals District Board (1) (TA946) | 08 Oct 1948 | 25 Jun 1968 |
Burnie Public Hospitals District Board (TA945) | 11 Aug 1949 | 01 Dec 1965 |
Meercroft Public Hospitals District Board (TA941) | 16 Dec 1949 | 10 Jan 1958 |
St Marys Public Hospitals District Board (TA942) | 16 Dec 1949 | 19 Jun 1990 |
Ulverstone Public Hospitals District Board (TA943) | 16 Dec 1949 | 12 Jan 1989 |
Beaconsfield Public Hospitals District Board (TA944) | 16 Dec 1949 | 19 Jun 1990 |
Longford Public Hospitals District Board (TA953) | 10 May 1950 | 19 Jun 1990 |
Smithton Public Hospitals District Board (TA952) | 19 Jul 1950 | 12 Jan 1989 |
Wynyard Public Hospitals District Board (TA971) | 26 Jul 1951 | 01 Dec 1965 |
Rosebery Public Hospital District Board (TA957) | 14 May 1953 | 31 Dec 1998 |
Previous Agencies:
Industrial Department (TA20) | 01 Jan 1916 | 31 Dec 1930 |
Central Board of Health (TA748) | 01 Jan 1886 | 06 Jan 1904 |
Medical Department (TA768) | 12 Sep 1803 | 06 Jan 1904 |
Mental Diseases Hospital Department (TA876) | 01 Jan 1915 | 31 Dec 1920 |
Related Agencies:
Division of Mental Hygiene (TA11) | 01 Dec 1945 | 31 Dec 1956 |
Subsequent Agencies:
Department of Health Services (TA23) | 01 Aug 1956 | 17 Jul 1989 |
Tasmanian Industrial Boards (TA273) | 01 Jan 1963 | 31 Dec 1984 |
Public Health Division (TA751) | 07 Dec 1945 | 03 Feb 1993 |
Hospital and Medical Services Division (TA755) | 07 Dec 1945 | 31 Dec 1990 |
Hospital for the Insane Department (TA875) | 01 Jan 1907 | 31 Dec 1915 |
Series Created By Agency:
AD443 Register of Midwifery Nurses. | 01 Apr 1902 | 31 Oct 1976 |
HSD273 Selected Reports Prepared by the Department. | 01 Jan 1904 | 31 Dec 1905 |
HSD20 Annual Reports of Public Hospitals. | 01 Jul 1918 | 30 Jun 1942 |
AD444 Register of Midwifery Nurses Annual Certificates. | 01 Jan 1920 | 31 Dec 1927 |
HSD12 Correspondence relating to Private Hospitals. | 01 Jan 1920 | 31 Dec 1950 |
HSD1 General Correspondence. | 26 Jan 1920 | 01 Sep 1956 |
AF200 Reports relating to Mental Health | 01 Jan 1924 | 31 Dec 1952 |
HSD2 Registers of Correspondence. | 01 Jan 1928 | 31 Dec 1949 |
AF45 Inward Correspondence | 01 Jan 1929 | 31 Dec 1935 |
HSD15 Correspondence and associated Documents relating to Infant Mortality. | 01 Jan 1931 | 31 Dec 1951 |
AD664 Chest Hospital Original Patient Cards Which have Been Replaced. | 01 Jan 1932 | 31 Dec 1952 |
HSD18 Miscellaneous Correspondence. | 01 Jan 1934 | 31 Dec 1952 |
HSD11 Correspondence relating to Public Hospitals. | 01 Jan 1935 | 31 Dec 1953 |
HSD3 Correspondence relating to the Government Medical Services Scheme. | 14 Jul 1935 | 03 Jul 1956 |
HSD223 Advance Account Register of Receipts and Payments. | 01 Jan 1936 | 31 Dec 1958 |
HSD16 Correspondence relating to the Establishment of the Government Medical Services Scheme. | 01 Jan 1937 | 31 Dec 1938 |
AC807 Patient Register (Tuberculosis). | 01 Apr 1937 | 31 Aug 1956 |
AC808 Patient Index (Tuberculosis). | 01 Apr 1937 | 31 Aug 1956 |
AC809 Mantoux Test Register. | 01 Jan 1938 | 30 Nov 1955 |
HSD21 Minute Papers for the Executive Council. | 01 Jan 1938 | 31 Dec 1957 |
HSD42 Estimates. | 01 Jan 1938 | 31 Dec 1939 |
HSD8 Register of Correspondence relating to the School Dental Service. | 01 Jan 1939 | 31 Dec 1954 |
HSD10 Register of Correspondence relating to the School Medical Service. | 01 Jan 1939 | 31 Dec 1954 |
HSD231 Bush Nursing Services - Correspondence and associated Papers relating to May Shaw Memorial Hospital, Swansea. | 01 Jan 1939 | 31 Dec 1945 |
HSD232 Bush Nursing Services - Record of Foundation of May Shaw Memorial Hospital, Swansea 1939 - 1945 Compiled by K.M. Morris. | 01 Jan 1939 | 30 Jun 1945 |
AA1 Correspondence Files. | 01 Jan 1940 | 31 Dec 1989 |
AD665 Patient Cards for Active Cases, including Separate Cards for Patients Who Died 1975-1977. | 01 Jan 1940 | 31 Dec 1979 |
HSD4 Registers of Correspondence relating to Government Medical Services Scheme. | 01 Jan 1940 | 31 Dec 1954 |
HSD224 Daily Journal of Monies received. | 01 Jan 1940 | 31 Dec 1961 |
AD662 Chest Hospital Patient Cards. | 01 Jan 1942 | 31 Dec 1972 |
AD663 Chest Hospital Patient Cards for Patients Not Seen for Ten Years or Longer. | 01 Jan 1942 | 31 Dec 1972 |
AD666 Patient Cards for Repatriation Hospital Cases. | 01 Jan 1942 | 31 Dec 1963 |
HSD19 Enquiry Into Tandara Private Hospital. | 01 Jan 1942 | 31 Dec 1942 |
AC695 Minutes of Meetings of Medical Directorate, Public Health Department. | 30 Sep 1945 | 06 Feb 1951 |
AD653 Register of Land Held by Public Hospital Boards. | 01 Jan 1948 | 31 Dec 1975 |
HSD14 Correspondence relating to Pharmaceutical Benefits. | 01 Jan 1949 | 31 Dec 1954 |
AE820 Minutes of the Oatlands Bush Nursing Hospital Women's Auxiliary | 04 Mar 1949 | 27 Sep 1965 |
HSD180 Director General of Medical Services' Notes and Correspondence relating to Tours of Hospitals, Bush Nursing Centres and Medical Officers' Residences. | 01 Jan 1952 | 31 Dec 1962 |
HSD183 Duplicate Receipt Books. | 24 Nov 1953 | 03 Dec 1953 |
AG86 General Correspondence - North-West | 01 Jan 1955 | 28 Jan 2010 |