The Country High School Hostels Authority was established under the Act of the same name to provide and maintain hostel accommodation for students attending primary and secondary schools.

The Country High School Hostels Authority was integrated with the Department of Education Services on 1 July 1996. Under this arrangement, the Authority maintained its statutory status and remained accountable to its seven member Authority appointed to administer the Country High School Hostels Authority Act 1960. Corporate services were provided by the Secondary Education Authority as part of the general arrangement for the Department of Education Services.

The School Boarding Facilities Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2016 abolished the Country High School Hostels Authority and enabled its functions to be undertaken by the Department of Education from 1 July 2017.