Australian resources

Adoption and children's institutions

• Benevolent Society Post Adoption Resource Centre (PARC)

Information for adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents. Provides information about services available, how to undertake a search, legislation in NSW, other states and overseas, post-adoption stories and weblinks. NSW Department of Community Services and adoption support groups.
 
• Community.gov.au adoption links

A Commonwealth Government site which provides links to online services and information about adoption.
 
• Index to the Randwick Asylum for Destitute Children

This index of registers of the Randwick Asylum is compiled from records held at the State Records New South Wales.
 
• NSW Department of Community Services adoption and permanent care services

Provides information about adoption services available through NSW Department of Community Services.

Archives, record offices and genealogical organisations

• Archives Office of Tasmania

This site contains guides to the public records of Tasmania. Several of the guides, which cover the Colonial Secretary's Office, the Governor's Office and the Convict Department, can be downloaded. References to a number of original documents which are held in the Mitchell Library at the State Library of New South Wales.
 
• Colonial Secretary Index, 1788 to 1825

The correspondence of the Colonial Secretary covered all aspects of the early administration of the colony of NSW. State Records NSW provides this searchable index to the Colonial Secretary's papers.
 
• Directory of archives in Australia

This site is by the Australian Society of Archivists, provides details about archival and historical organisations in Australia.
 
• LDS family history centres

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons), collect many records of interest to the family history researchers. Their family history centres are open to the public.
 
• Local Family History Societies

Contact details for family history societies in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. Produced by the New South Wales Family History Document Service.
 
• National Archives of Australia

The National Archives of Australia holds material on immigrants and refugees, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, members of the defence forces, government employees, subjects of surveillance by security and intelligence agencies, or as prisoners of war or internees. Records held by the Archives were generally created after 1901. It does not hold records of convicts, of colonial migration, or of nineteenth century Australian history such as the gold rushes or colonial administration.
 
• New South Wales archives relating to Australian Aboriginal peoples

This site provides information on how to gain access to the Aborigines Welfare Board, Aboriginal Lands Trust and Department of Community Services and Aboriginal Services branch records. The guide also lists holdings of records of the Aborigines Welfare Board 1883–1969 and state archives from other government agencies relating to Aboriginal peoples.
 
• New South Wales Department of Aboriginal Affairs

Information on how to access the records of the Aborigines Protection Board, later renamed the Aborigines Welfare Board. The time period covered is 1833-1969. The Board's records include details of children removed as well as detailed information on all aspects of life on stations and reserves, such as financial statements, salary and employment details, tenancy agreements and applications to leave the reserve. The site also includes contact details for help with Indigenous family research.
 
• Society of Australian Genealogists

This site provides information about the society's collection and activities, and searchable indexes such as convict tickets of leave, soldiers and marines, and ships musters (departures).
 
• State Records NSW

This site (formerly known as the Archives Authority of NSW) contains information on useful resources such as the Colonial Secretary's papers. Several searchable databases can be accessed on this site, including many indexes such as convicts and assisted immigrants, deceased estate files, 19th century child welfare records and naturalisation records.
 
• State Records NSW -  Tracing your family history

A brief overview of the major resources held by State Records NSW in relation to family history research.
 
• Public Records Office of Victoria

This site contains information about early Victoria. It contains many searchable databases.

Births, deaths and marriages, including divorce

• Divorce Index New South Wales

Index to Divorce Case Papers 1873-1930 held at State Records NSW
 
• Divorce Index Victoria, 1861 to 1900

This site, produced by Macbeth Genealogical Services, allows you to search an online database covering the Divorce Index of Victoria between 1861 and 1900.
 
• FamilySearch

This site from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons) provides a searchable database of more than 300 million names. The database includes the Ancestral File indexes and the International Genealogical Index. It also provides access to the Family History Library Catalogue as well as thousands of indexed web sites.
 
• Index to divorce case papers 1873-1917

Compiled from the Index to Matrimonial Causes Files, 1873-1928, which was created by the Supreme Court of NSW
 
• New South Wales deceased estate files 1880 - 1923

This index is being compiled from State Records NSW Duty Paid files. This index is not yet complete but covers a number of years in this date range.
 
• New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages

The NSW RegistryÂ’s site allows you to search an online database which indexes births (1788-1905), deaths (1788-1974) and marriages (1788-1954) in NSW. The site also provides information on births, deaths and marriage certificates and other useful genealogical information for New South Wales. Certificates may be ordered online from the Registry.
 
• Tasmanian family links database

This site allows you to search an online database which contains records of births, deaths, and marriages held in the Archives Office of Tasmania. It also provides indexes of census records, wills, divorces and other indexes.
 
• Western Australian Pioneers Index

Search birth, death and marriage records for Western Australia for the period 1841 - 1905. Certificates can be ordered online. Site maintained by the WA Dept of Justice.

Cemeteries

• Canterbury City Cemeteries

Alphabetical indexes of burials at historic cemeteries of the City of Canterbury, Sydney. Cemeteries include Moorefields at Kingsgrove; St Barnabas's and St Saviours at Punchbowl.
 
• Cemeteries of Australia (Interment.Net)

Cemetery transcriptions from Australia and other countries. The transcriptions are compiled from submissions by volunteers.
 
• Cemeteries in and around Gunning Shire, New South Wales

Provides headstone inscriptions for the cemeteries in the Gunning Shire area. Site produced by Graeme Challinor.
 
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

This site provides a searchable register which lists personal and service details and places of commemoration for the 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth's forces who died in the First or Second World Wars. Details of 67,000 Commonwealth civilians who died in WW II are also recorded
 
• Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park (Botany Cemetery)

Index of graves in Botany Cemetery and Eastern Suburbs Crematorium. Details include internment date, age, location and map. Produced by the Botany Cemetery and Eastern Suburbs Crematorium Trusts.
 
• Graves and memorials of Australians in the Boer War 1899-1902

Information about graves and memorials to Australian soldiers who died in the Boer War. Provides brief biographies, some photographs, including photos of memorials. Includes memorials in Australia. Searchable by name, unit and location. Produced by the Heraldry and Genealogy Society of Canberra Inc
 
• Hunter Valley genealogy

Cemeteries, lists of settlers, convicts and early church subscribers, family history societies, and other resources relating to genealogy in the Hunter Valley. Produced and maintained by Patricia May.
 
• Lismore Lawn Cemetery and Memorial Gardens Register

Lismore City Council’s searchable database of Lismore Cemetery and Memorial Gardens. Includes date of death and may include location of grave, or funeral service details.
 
• Metropolitan Cemeteries Board of Western Australia

Index to Fremantle, Karrakatta, Pinnaroo, Midland and Guildford cemeteries. Search by name to find cemetery grave location and grant number, whether the grant has expired, date of death, memorial location, funeral application number.
 
• Newcastle cemeteries

Headstone transcriptions of four significant cemeteries in the Newcastle area: Christ Church Cathedral Cemetery, Tarro Cemetery, Old Wallsend Cemetery and traces of North Waratah Cemetery. In time the index will be expanded to include a number of the larger cemeteries in the Newcastle area. Produced by Newcastle Regional Local Studies Library.
 
• Shoalhaven cemeteries

Searchable database for Shoalhaven cemeteries and crematorium, maintained by the Shoalhaven Council. Includes date of death, date of burial, location of grave and option to request more information on each grave.

Convicts and the First Fleet

• Cascades Female Factory historic site

Website of the historic site in South Hobart. Includes convict articles,links, photo gallery, timelines, female convict database,events etc.
 
• Convict records at State Records NSW

Includes the following indexes: Certificates of freedom, 1823-69; Convict Bank accounts 1837-70; Convict exiles 1849-50; Pardons, 1791-1825, 1837-41; Tickets of exemption from government labour, 1827-32; Tickets of leave, certificates of emancipation and pardons, 1810-1819; Ticket of leave passports, 1835-1869. Index of Bench of Magistrates 1788-1820; Index to (NSW) Quarter Session cases 1824-1837. Includes a guide to searching for a convict at State Records NSW.
 
• Convicts Australia

Miscellaneous convict records including lists of absconders, convicts apprehended, lists of convict names appearing in the Sydney Gazette, and convict assignments. Presented by Jenny Fawcett - Genseek Genealogy.
 
• Convicts to Australia: a guide to researching your convict ancestors

This site includes details about convict ships sent to each state, as well as a list of all female convicts sent to NSW from England and Ireland between 1788 and 1828. The site also includes a list of censuses and musters, and other lists relevant to convict research, including a glossary of convict terms and a history of transportation to Australia. Maintained by the Perth Dead PersonÂ’s Society.
 
• Decisions of the superior courts of New South Wales, 1788 to 1899

Created by the Division of Law at Macquarie University, this site currently contains a searchable database of decisions from the Supreme court of NSW handed down between 1824 and 1841 as well as cases concerning aborigines from later years.
 
• First Fleet online

The University of Wollongong has created a database of First Fleet convicts, diary extracts, stories and letters of the time and links to other information about Australia's past.
 
• Great North Road convict trail

Dedicated to the history of the 240 km convict-built road from Sydney to the Hunter Valley. Includes a convict workers database. Also includes a description of the Iron Gangs, Road Gangs and Bridge Gangs involved in its construction.
 
• International centre for convict studies

The International Centre for Convict Studies (ICCS) is a trans-national and multi-disciplinary consortium of scholars engaged in research on penal transportation and convict experience within the British Empire from 1600-1940. It includes researchers from Australia, United States, South Africa and Europe working in the disciplines of history, textual studies, archaeology, economics and sociology.
 
• Irish Convicts to Australia 1781-1830's

This site allows you to search an online database which contains information on Irish convicts who were transported to New South Wales in the period 1791-1830's. Includes a list of ships carrying Irish convicts and links to other Irish convict and revel sites. Site maintained by Peter Mayberry.
 
• The National Archives of Ireland

This site provides a searchable database of transportation records of convicts sent from Ireland between 1791 and 1868. Note that all transportation registers prior to 1836 were destroyed. Therefore if the convict was not the subject of a petition prior to this date, they will not appear. The names of the convict family members that came to Australia as free settlers may also be listed. This is an index only. Microfilm copies of the original records are held in the Family History Service at the State Library of NSW. These records were received in 1988 as a gift from Ireland to commemorate the bicentenary of white settlement in Australia.
 
• Proceedings of the Old Bailey, 1674 to 1834

More than 100 000 full-text transcripts of criminal trials held at London's central criminal court. Many convicts sent to Australia were tried at the Old Bailey. The site includes English social history of the period. Created by the Humanities Research Institute, University of Sheffield.
 
• Ships of the First Fleet

This site provides a picture and information on each ship that sailed with the First Fleet. Images have been constructed from written descriptions of the ships. Produced by the First Fleet Fellowship.
 
• South Australian transported convicts 1837 to 1851

Although no convicts were transported directly to South Australia from Britain, some convicts were tried in South Australia and transported to other colonies. This alphabetical list provides details of convicts including name, alias, crime, date and length of sentence. Produced by Graham Jaunay.
 
• Swan River convicts 1850 to1868

A database of nearly 10,000 convicts transported to Western Australia from 1850 to 1868. Includes details such as birth date, crime, where tried, years served, ticket of leave and certificate of freedom dates, and occupation. Searchable by name and ship. Produced by the Fremantle Prison.

Military

• Australian Service Nurses National Memorial

This site lists the names of Australian nurses who died during or as a result of war service since the Boer War. Produced by the Returned and Service Nurses Club of Victoria.
 
• Australian War Memorial

Online searchable databases including:

Australian Military Forces [AMF] Prisoners of War and Missing in the Far East and South West Pacific Islands
Details of approximately 23,000 AMF prisoners of war and missing personnel from operations in the Far East and South West Pacific Islands, as at 30 June 1944.

Nominal rolls
Details of people who served in the Sudan War, Boer War, Boxer Uprising, First World War, Second World War and Gulf War (1990-1991).

Roll of Honour
Australians who died while on active service with Australian forces.

Honours and awards
Honours and awards made to Australians while on active service in various conflicts. Includes some recommendations not subsequently granted, and some foreign awards and awards to foreign soldiers serving with Australian units.

Commemorative Roll
Australians who died during or as a result of wars in which Australians served, but who were not serving in the Australian Armed Forces and therefore not eligible for inclusion on the Roll of Honour.
 

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

This site provides a searchable register which lists personal and service details and places of commemoration for the 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth's forces who died in the First or Second World Wars. The register also lists 67,000 Commonwealth civilians killed in WWII.
 
• Register of war memorials in New South Wales

A register of all known war memorials throughout New South Wales, searchable by personal name and location. Sponsored by the NSW Government and the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL).
 
• Soldiers and marines index 1787 to 1830

An index to musters and pay lists of British soldiers and marines in the early colonial period. This index by the Society of Australian Genealogists refers to microfilm reels of the Australian Joint Copying Project which are available in the Mitchell Library.
 
• War memorials in Australia

Locations, descriptions, honour rolls and images of war memorials in the states and territories of Australia.

Newspaper indexes

• Argus Index

The Argus, the major Australian metropolitan daily of its time, was published in Melbourne from 1846 to 1957. It is the primary resource for data on 19th century Australia, widely recognised as the general Australian newspaper of record for the era. The 1870-1879 index is part of La Trobe University's Argus Index Project and the first available in this form.
 
• Newcastle Herald

This site provides access to an index for the Newcastle Morning Herald from 1869 to 1943. Maintained by the Newcastle Regional Local Studies Library.
 
• Sydney Dead Persons Society newspaper indexes

This site provides indexes to death and obituary notices. Includes the Ryerson Index an ongoing project that indexes death notices in the Sydney Morning Herald back to the 1970's and other Australian newspapers (various dates).

Passenger lists and immigration

• Australia passenger indexes

This website lists passengers on a variety of ships arriving in all Australian states during the 19th century. Includes inter-colonial arrivals and departures and some lists contain names of freed convicts travelling interstate or overseas. Produced by Jenny Fawcett.
 
• AUSNZ passenger lists

This site provides links to online passenger lists which cover migrant ships to Australia and New Zealand. It also includes maps which link years of arrival with ports. Maintained by Graham Jaunay.
 
• Australian National Maritime Museum

This site provides information about the Museum's holdings and access conditions. You can also access Pathfinder guides to commonly requested subjects including seafaring ancestors, sailing ships, convict ships and shipwrecks.
 
• Convictions: Australian shipping 1788 - 1968

Contains lists of tens of thousands of shipping movements and passenger entries for ships to Australian ports. Also Includes categories , ships captains, shipboard diaries, and a vessel index. Site maintained by Peter Larson.
 
• European migrants to Australia after 1924

The National Archives holds the immigration records of hundreds of thousands of migrants that arrived in Australia after 1924. Making Australia Home allows migrants and their descendents to obtain copies of migration records for a fee. Documents may include applications forms, passenger lists, entry permits and accommodation records and naturalisation. Records may include the following information: name, nationality, birth date and place, education, occupation, family details and even passport photos. Records are available if they are more than 30 years old. This site allows you to search the catalogue to many of these records and then apply, using the location numbers found.
 
• Illustrated Sydney News index to illustrations of ships

An index to illustrations of ships, ports and places, published in the Illustrated Sydney News from 1853 to 1889. Includes items relating to New Zealand. Index created by Vaughan Evans.
 
• Index to assisted immigrants arriving at Moreton Bay (Brisbane), 1848 to 1859

Index to assisted immigrants arriving at Port Phillip (Melbourne), 1839 to 1851
Index to assisted immigrants arriving in Sydney and Newcastle, 1844 to 1859
Index to assisted immigrants arriving in Sydney, 1860 to 1879
Index to assisted immigrants arriving in Sydney, 1880 to 1896
These indexes, at the State Records NSW site, cover passengers who arrived in the colony of NSW under assisted immigration schemes.

Index to unassisted immigrants arriving in Australia 1842 to 1855
Index to unassisted immigrants arriving in Australia 1842-1855

This index, produced by State Records NSW, covers passengers who came to Australia without government assistance, as well as crew. This is an index to the following resources: Reports of vessels arrived (or Shipping reports) 1826-1855, Shipping Masters' Office (Passengers Arriving), 1854-55 and Passengers arriving at Sydney, 1846. The names in these lists have been cross checked with names appearing in newspaper shipping lists (eg Sydney Morning Herald). Includes passengers arriving into Sydney from other States and ports other than UK.
 

• Index to Naturalization, 1834-1903

Produced by State Records NSW, this index lists 5,500 entries of people born outside the British Empire who became naturalised. Generally people were naturalised if they wished to purchase land or vote. They had to have lived in New South Wales for at least 5 years before they qualified for citizenship.
 
• Mariners and ships in Australian waters

The lists on this site are being transcribed from the State Records Authority of NSW reels of the Shipping Master's Office, Inwards Passengers Lists and includes masters, crew, stowaways, passengers, cabin, saloon and steerage,births at sea, deaths at sea,deserters etc. Site includes details of ships arriving from non-UK ports. Site developed by Mary-Anne Warner.
 
• Passenger ships arriving in Australasian ports

A partial index of ships arriving in NSW (1837-1899), Queensland (1840-1915), Victoria (1837-1899), South Australia (1836-1860), Western Australia (1829-1889)and New Zealand (1839-1905). Includes convict transports (1788-1868). Produced by Margaret Bauer and Nancy Campbell.
 
• Queensland assisted immmigration 1848 - 1884

This index was compiled from the original passenger lists in the collection of the Queensland State Archives. The passenger lists are primarily for assisted passengers from the United Kingdom and Europe. Please note that this list does not include passengers from New Zealand, the Americas, Asia, Africa, other Australian ports or those passengers who paid their own fare.
 
• Ships Muster Index: Passengers and crew departing NSW, 1816 to 1825

An index to official departure records from 1816 to 1825, with details of passengers and crew. In the case of convicts and ex-convicts, details of their ticket of leave, certificate of freedom or pardon are provided. This index is compiled by the Society of Australian Genealogists.
 
• Unassisted passengers 1842-1855

Unassisted (free) passengers who arrived in Australia without government assistance. Includes ships' crew.
 
• Victoria: Public Record Office Victoria: Index of assisted British immigrants 1839 to 1871

An index of passengers to Victoria from Britain between 1839 and 1871. As assisted immigrants their passage was subsidised by the Victorian Government.
 
• Victoria: Public Record Office unassisted shipping index: Index of inward passenger lists for British and foreign ports, 1852 to 1923

An index to names of unassisted passengers who arrived in Victoria from British and foreign ports between 1852 and 1923. The Public Record Office Victoria website also provides research guides and information about the office's collections and services.

Useful sites

• Cora Num's websites for genealogists

This provides useful links and information on researching Australian family history. Many subjects are covered including for example Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, births, deaths and marriages, child migration, occupations and service personnel from Australia and New Zealand, wills and probate.
 
• Genealogy Search Australia

An Australian genealogical search engine and directory. Produced by the Whatever Australia Group.
 
• Genie & history links

Family history links grouped by Australian state and subjects such as military, police, shipping records, cemeteries, convicts.
 
• Genseek genealogy

Includes over 900 genealogical indexes of mostly Australian material such as a mariners index of captains, crew, and deserters, passenger lists, police lists, convict assignment lists, crew lists, absconders, and publicans. Includes some electoral rolls. Includes some newspaper indexes. Further information about an individual found in an index can be provided for a small fee. Website created by Jenny Fawcett.
 
• Judy Webster's genealogy advice for Australia, especially Queensland

Searchable lists of names, mainly from Queensland State Archives, such as Hospital and Asylum registers and records, old age pension recipients, and names appearing in the Queensland Police Gazette. A fee is charged for the exact source reference. Tips and advice for Queensland genealogy also provided.
 
• RootsWeb: Australia and New Zealand

This site provides access to mailing lists for various aspects of Australian family history.
 
• Tasmanian family history

This site contains links to websites with content related to Tasmanian family history. Includes a number of Tasmanian indexes. Co-ordinated by Meryl Yost.

Tutorial

• Genealogy classes

This site is designed for people who are new to researching their family history on the Internet. It includes lessons about getting started on the Internet and useful information about online research.

From the NSW library