Series 225 - Photographs of people at the Australian National University

From 1947, the Registrar, reporting to the Vice-Chancellor, was responsible for the administrative work of the University with duties specified in the University statutes such as conducting Council elections, acting as Secretary of the Council, the Board of Graduate Studies and each Faculty and Faculty Board, and affixing the common seal of the University to official documents and degrees, but also for correspondence with public bodies, legislation, personnel matters (except academic appointments) and official publications. The Registrar initially directed the work of all administrative areas but as the University administration grew, new structures were developed. The Bursar was responsible for budgets, accounting services, business management and for residential housing. The Academic Registrar was the secretary of the Boards of the Institute of Advanced Studies and of the School of General Studies, responsible for administrative matters related to academic staff appointments and student matters. The Registrar (Property and Plans) was responsible for the coordination of planning, including the relating of academic plans to the provision of buildings and site development. Functions which had been managed by the Office of the Registrar were devolved to other areas such as University Information (later, Public Affairs Division) and Human Resources so that by 1998 the Office of the Registrar was no longer identified as an administrative unit. From 2006, the position of Registrar has headed the Division of Registrar and Student Services.

University Information functioned as a public relations unit whose roles included publishing the ANU Reporter, and arranging tours of the campus, appointments and briefings for visitors. From 1982 to 1987, inquiries relating to matters of a general nature concerning the University were directed to University Information. In 1987 it was replaced by University Public Relations.

University Public Relations office replaced the University Information section in 1987. The office continued to promote the University with local, national and international public relations activities including arranging tours for visitors, publishing the campus newsletter ANU Reporter, media liaison activities, and Open Day events. During 1993, the University Public Relations office was combined with the Official Publications Unit, the Drill Hall Gallery, the ANU Art Collection and Graduate Affairs to form the Public Affairs Division.

The Public Relations Division was established in 1993 when the former University Public Relations section was combined with the Official Publications Unit, the Drill Hall Gallery, the ANU Art Collection and Graduate Affairs. Mr J Mahoney, Head, Public Affairs Division, edited the journal University Public Relations established during 1993.