The creation, publication and dissemination of a governmental gazette was one of a myriad of bureaucratic functions attendant on the
Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901. The first
Commonwealth Gazette, dated 1 January 1901, was written by
Robert Garran and published on 2 January 1901. It contained
Queen Victoria's proclamation dated 17 September 1900, for the establishment of the Commonwealth, the announcement of the appointment of ministers and their respective offices, and of the appointment of the
Governor-General and his staff. The appearance of the first
Gazette was reported by newspapers in every state, some in considerable detail. ;Some historic issues: :The primary purpose of a
Gazette was, and is, of the ordinary "housekeeping" of a large organisation; of little interest to any but employees and others immediately affected and, retrospectively, to historians, but on occasion of great moment to the whole population: • The second issue, termed "Extraordinary" was dated 23 January 1901, and consisted of a single page authorised by the Prime Minister,
Edmund Barton, announcing the
death of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. A large number of Australian newspapers reported the contents of this Gazette
verbatim. Issues 3 to 5, also termed "Extraordinary" were published on 24, 28 and 31 January 1901, and dealt with protocol to be observed relating to the Sovereign's death, mourning etc., and proclamation of the accession to the Throne of King and Emperor Edward the Seventh. • During the 1914 Constitutional crisis which resulted in the first
double dissolution of the Australian parliament, newspapers cited the Gazette as an authoritative source of information. • On the eve of Australia's entry into the Great War of 1914–1918, enemy merchant shipping was notified in the
Gazette of 5 August 1914 of "days of grace" whereby they could return to their home ports unhindered. Such preparations for
World War I were reported in the Australian press. • With the heightening of tensions following aggressive actions by Germany, the
Gazette published on 1 September 1939 a special issue detailing imposition of censorship of international communication, which was relayed by news channels. Official notification to the Australian public on 3 September 1939 of a state of war between Great Britain and Germany was reported extensively.
1974 to present By 1974 the Gazette had become so large and unwieldy that it was decided to split it into four separate publications, numbered independently: •
Government Notices Gazette is published weekly and covers all legislation, changes to Australian Government departments and other notices required under Commonwealth law. Their Numbers are prefixed "G" or "GN". •
Special Notices Gazette may be published at any time, and usually consists of a single announcement. Their numbers are prefixed "S". •
Periodic Notices Gazette may be published at any time, and consists of a set of notices relating to a specific subject. Their numbers are prefixed "P". •
Australian Public Service Gazette is published weekly and includes notices of examination; and Australian Public Service and Parliamentary Service vacancies, transfers, promotions and terminations. Their Numbers are prefixed "PS". Since 1974 a range of other gazettes has been issued by the Australian Government. Their number and titles have not been constant; the current (2017) list includes: :*Government Purchasing :*Business Gazette :*Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Gazette :*Tariff Concessions Gazette :*Chemical Gazette :*Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) Gazette :*Food Standards Gazette
APSjobs is a website which incorporates an electronic version of the APS Employment Gazette. ==Historic==