| Agency Name: | Department of Primary Industry |
| Formed: | 11 January 1956 |
| Preceding1: | Department of Trade and Customs – for sugar agreements, cotton, sulphuric acid, and policy in relation to bounties Department of Commerce and Agriculture – for agricultural and pastoral industries and fisheries Department of the Interior (II) – for War service land settlement |
| Dissolved: | 12 June 1974 |
| Superseding: | Department of Agriculture (I) |
| Type: | Department |
| Jurisdiction: | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Minister1 Name: | William McMahon |
| Minister1 Pfo: | Minister (1956–1958) |
| Minister2 Name: | Charles Adermann |
| Minister2 Pfo: | Minister (1958–1967) |
| Minister3 Name: | Doug Anthony |
| Minister3 Pfo: | Minister (1967–1971) |
| Minister4 Name: | Ian Sinclair |
| Minister4 Pfo: | Minister (1971–1972) |
| Minister5 Name: | Ken Wriedt |
| Minister5 Pfo: | Minister (1972–1974) |
| Chief1 Name: | John Crawford |
| Chief1 Position: | Secretary (1956) |
| Chief2 Name: | Jim Moroney |
| Chief2 Position: | Secretary (1956–1962) |
| Chief3 Name: | Alf Maiden |
| Chief3 Position: | Secretary (1962–1968) |
| Chief4 Name: | Walter Ives |
| Chief4 Position: | Secretary (1968–1974) |
| Headquarters: | Barton, Canberra |
The Department of Primary Industry was an Australian government department that existed between January 1956 and June 1974.
Information about the department's functions and government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the department's annual reports.
At the department's creation the department was responsible for the administration of Commonwealth policy on agricultural production, including responsibilityfor export inspection services, fisheries development and whaling.
Among other things, the department was tasked with developing price stabilization and marketing plans for many agricultural commodities, including wheat.
The department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Primary Industry.