Australia Genealogy

Oceania

Australia

Guide to Australia ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Australia Wiki Topics
Beginning Research
Guided Research Research Strategies Record Finder Finding Town of Origin
Record Types
Biography Business Cemeteries Census Chinese Records Church Records Civil Registration Colonial Records Convict Records Court Records Directories Emigration & Immigration Genealogy Heraldry Land and Property	Medical Records Military Records Naturalization & Citizenship Newspapers Obituaries Occupations Online Records Orphans and Orphanages Periodicals Probate Records Religious Records School Records Taxation Voting Registers
Australia Background
Church Directories Church History Encyclopedias & Dictionaries	Gazetteers Historical Geography History Languages Maps
Cultural Groups
Cultural Groups Chinese Records
Local Research Resources
Archives & Libraries Societies Family History Centers

Country Information

European explorers began arriving in what is now Australia in the 17th century. In 1770, Great Britain claimed Australia as a territory. The "First Fleet" of European settlers arrived in 1788 with ships of convicts. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. English is the official language.

Getting Started

Getting Started with Australia Research Links to articles on getting started with Australia research. Australia Guided Research Research Strategies Australian states' civil birth, marriage, and certificates Australia BDM Civil Registration Index Online Class

Australia Research Tools Links to articles and websites about Australia research. Record Finder Archives and Libraries

Australia Online Genealogy Records

Ask the Community

Finding Your Ancestors' Town in Australia

• Genealogical records are organized by geographical locality. Civil registration (government birth, marriage, and death records) and church records (christenings/baptisms, marriages, and burials) were kept at the local level. To search these records, you must know the town where your ancestors lived.
• If you do not know your ancestors' town, follow the advice in the Wiki article, Australia Finding Town of Origin, to search a variety of records that might provide that information.

Australia Clickable Map

When doing Australian research, it is helpful to know where one's family or ancestors lived in Australia and to know when they died. Click on a state name or on the map below to learn about research in an Australian state or territory.

Jurisdictions

States

After federation many governmental functions whose records are of interest to family historians remained the responsibility of the States. For example, the registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages is a State function; the Commonwealth was only responsible for these functions in the territories until the territory achieved responsible self-government. Click on a state below to go to the state Wiki article listing more information.

New South Wales (NSW) Queensland (QLD) South Australia (SA)

Tasmania (TAS) Victoria (VIC) Western Australia (WA)

Territories

• Australian Capital Territory(ACT)
• Jervis Bay Territory (JBT)
• Northern Territory
• Ashmore and Cartier Islands (uninhabited)
• Australian Antarctic Territory
• Christmas Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
• Coral Sea Islands (population: 4)
• Heard Island and McDonald Islands (uninhabited)
• Norfolk Island

Former Australian Territories

The New Zealand Islands (1788-1840) (as part of the Colony of New South Wales) Territory of Papua (1906–42)

Territory of New Guinea (1920–42) Territory of Papua & New Guinea (1942–71)

Territory of Papua New Guinea (1971–75) Territory of Nauru (1920–68)

FamilySearch Resources

Below are FamilySearch resources that can assist you in researching your family.

• Facebook Communities - Facebook groups discussing genealogy research
• Learning Center - Online genealogy courses
• Historical Records all FamilySearch historical records about Australia.
• Family History Center locator map