Discipline of Economics

Following a report adopted by Senate on 3 December 1906 Economics was first taught as part of Commerce I in 1907. In its Report for 1906 Senate noted that:

"It has been further determined to institute an evening course in Commerce, extending over a period of three years, during which the subjects of study will be Economics, Accountancy , Finance, Commercial Law, Commercial History and Geography, Banking, Insurance, Statistical Methods, Business Organisation and Enterprise, Transport, & c. Those persons who have attended the full curriculum and passed satisfactory examinations will receive a diploma in Commerce. The subject of Commerce has also been added to the list of alternative subjects, which may be selected by students proceeding to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. It is believed that these lectures on Commerce will prove of great value to persons engaged in commercial pursuits, and to members of the Public Service. The first course of lectures will commence in March, 1907."

In 1907 Commerce 1 was taught in the Faculty of Arts. Lectures were held at the Law School in Phillip Street. Arts, however was of the opinion that the Diploma in Economics and Commerce was unsuitable for inclusion in the Arts curriculum just other professional courses were. After some discussion Senate agreed on 7 December 1908 that the Department of Economics and Commerce be provisionally attached to the Faculty of Law and subsequently the Department of Economics and Commerce was annexed to the Faculty of Laws (Law Faculty Minutes 4 December 1908, Senate Minutes 7 December 1908). The chief lecturer of the Department, Irvine, was made lecturer-in-charge.

From 1909 until 1912 the Department of Economics and Commerce was attached to the Faculty of Law; from 1913 onward it again came under the Faculty of Arts.

In 1920 the Faculty of Economics was formed.

In December 2010 Senate gave approval for the transfer of the Discipline of Economics, the Centre for International Security Studies and the Graduate School of Government to the Faculty of Arts from 1 January 2011.