The Aborigines Office was the name given to the Office of the Protector of Aborigines in 1866 while the position of Protector was vacant due to illness. During this period the responsibilities of the Protector were taken on by clerks in the Aborigines Office and a greater number of sub-protectors. The Aborigines Office consisted only of the Chief Protector of Aborigines, the Sub-Protector, Far North and one junior clerk when it was replaced by the Aborigines Department in 1912.
The Aborigines Office was under the auspices of the Minister for Crown Lands and Immigration until 1891. Between 1892 and 1901 the Minister of Agriculture and Education was the Minister responsible. Subsequently the office came under the Treasurer and Commissioner for Crown Lands and Immigration (1902 – 1903), the Attorney-General and Minister of Education (1904 – 1905), Commissioner of Public Works and Minister of Education (1906 – 1908), and Commissioner of Public Works thereafter.