Regulations for the purchase and custody of stores and for the administration of the Tender Board were passed on 18 March 1903. The first members of the Tender Board were appointed on 12 March 1903. The Government Tender Board existed in this form until 1944 when Treasury Regulations under the Audit Act passed in that year repealed previous Tender Board regulations and re-established the Tender Board.

The Government Tender Board [2] was created when Treasury regulations passed under the Audit Act in 1944 repealed the earlier Tender Board regulations of 1903 and incorporated new Tender Board regulations. However, some doubt existed as to whether the Tender Board constituted a legal entity and therefore whether it had authority to enter into contracts on behalf of the Government.

The legality of the Tender Board was finally resolved with the passing of the State Tender Board Act 1966, proclaimed on the 1 February 1966.

The Tender Board was responsible for the purchase, custody and disposal of stores and the provision of services for the government.

The creation of the State Tender Board in 1966 ended the doubtful legal position of the previous Tender Board. The functions remained the same - the purchase and custody of stores for the Government and the administration of the Tender Board.

Responsibility for the Tender Board was passed to the Department of Services in 1986.