Australia. Department of External Affairs

The Department of External Affairs was an Australian Government department, not a single person. It existed in two main periods, including a long stretch from 1921 to 1970, and was responsible for managing Australia’s overseas relations and many of the functions that would later sit within the modern foreign affairs portfolio.

For much of its early history, the department was closely tied to the Prime Minister’s Department, and the prime minister often served as the minister responsible. As Australia’s international role grew, External Affairs became increasingly important in shaping diplomacy, international representation, and foreign policy.

In November 1970, the department was renamed the Department of Foreign Affairs, marking a shift toward the structure readers would recognize today. Because this is an institution rather than a personal author, there is no suitable portrait image to provide.