Family Historians

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Starting your Research

The Library's Newspapers and Microforms Reading Room is the best place to start your family history research.

Frequently used family history material on microfiche and microfilm is located in a special area of the reading room. Check Family History Sources in the Newspapers and Microforms Reading Room and our list of new acquisitions to see the range of material we hold in this area.

Staff can assist you in locating resources and in using the microform equipment, but cannot undertake extensive or ongoing genealogical, historical or other research for clients. If you are unable to come to the Library yourself, we maintain a select list of Private Professional Researchers in a range of subject fields, who undertake work for a negotiated fee. Please contact them directly. This list has been prepared as a community service, and we do not endorse any particular researchers.

You can search the Library's catalogue for specific topics, such as published family histories, local histories, ship information and biography.

Major resources held include:

• Australian Birth, Marriage and Death Records at the National Library of Australia
• General Register Office: indexes to English and Welsh births, deaths, marriages
• Australian Electoral Rolls at the National Library of Australia
• Records relating to Convict Transportation
• Ship and Passenger Records: Print Resources at the National Library of Australia
• British government records relating to the Australian colonies (AJCP)
• The Griffith Valuation and index to the Tithe Applotment books (Ireland)
• Indexes to Inquests and Probate records
• Australian Censuses and Musters: Print Resources at the National Library of Australia
• Cemetery Records: Print Resources at the National Library of Australia
• Australian parish records on microfilm (SAG collection)
• Newspaper Indexes at the National Library of Australia
• Post office directories
• Australian Biography: Print Resources at the National Library of Australia

Material relating to your family history may be found in other parts of the Library's collections such as:

• Newspapers
• Manuscripts
• Pictures
• Maps
• Oral History

Family History Online:

The Library subscribes to many online resources relating to family history. Some of the databases are only accessible in the Library's reading room. For a complete listing of genealogical databases check E-Resources.

Additional online information relating to Australian family history can be found at Australian Family History and Genealogy: Selected Websites.

For pictures of people and places check PictureAustralia.