Key Resources

Major References

New South Wales Resource List
A comprehensive listing of resources of use to genealogical researchers interested in New South Wales. These resources are held in the Alexander Library Building and include records of births, deaths and marriages, convicts, and passenger lists.

Collections

The Genealogy Research Kit
A major collection of records issued by the Archives Authority of New South Wales, including details of births, deaths and marriages, convicts, immigration, and land allocation for the period 1788 to 1900.

The Colonial Secretary's Papers 1788-1825
Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary
This collection of records of the principal administrator of the colony of New South Wales provides detailed information about individuals and issues of importance within the colony.

Community Resources

Interest/Support Groups

Society of Australian Genealogists
The Society of Australian Genealogists was established in 1932 and is located in the historic Rocks district of Sydney.

Western Australian Genealogical Society Inc.
This is an active group of genealogical enthusiasts! Their web site provides many useful links.

Other Information Resources

Net Links

Convicts to Australia : a Guide to Researching Your Convict Ancestors
This wonderful site is intended to guide, inform and entertain those just starting the hunt for a convict ancestor, as well as the more experienced researcher. Links are provided to a range of overseas and Australian based sites of interest to convict researchers.

Heraldry and Genealogy Society of Canberra Inc.
The Heraldry and Genealogy Society of Canberra Inc. (HAGSOC) was formed to promote and encourage the study of family history and genealogy.

Hotels and Publicans Licences
A list of the names of publicans in Western NSW for 1865 to 1900 and Central NSW for 1865 to 1870. There are also articles and advertisements from newspapers of the time and photographs of the hotels.

Irish Convicts to Australia 1791 - 1820
This database contains details of Irish convicts who were transported to New South Wales in the period 1791 to 1820. It also includes access to lists of ships carrying Irish convicts and details of Irish rebels transported in the period 1791 to 1806.

Sydney Dead Persons Society
The Sydney Dead Persons Society is an informal, self-help group of amateur family historians and genealogists who use the Internet and Bulletin Boards to conduct their research.

Government

National Archives of Australia
The National Archives of Australia holds the records of Australian Commonwealth government and has offices in the capital city of each State and Territory. An abundance of material of interest to family historians is held, with the main strength bring records created since Federation in 1901.

New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
This Registry records all births, deaths and marriages occurring in New South Wales.

State Library of New South Wales
This site provides information about the Library and its services, including details of the Family History Services offered.

State Records New South Wales
Previously known as the Archives Authority of New South Wales, this organisation has responsibility for government record keeping and the care of historical records of enduring value. On their web site it is possible to search the Index to Assisted Immigrants arriving in Sydney and Newcastle, 1844 to 1859.

State Records New South Wales (divorce case records)
This index to divorce case records covers 18736-1903, 1904-11 (incomplete). The index can be accessed freely but there is a $45.00 charge to access documentation through the Divorce Case Papers Copying Service.

State Records New South Wales (orphan school records)
The index to Orphan School records is an ongoing volunteer project to index key records for the Orphan Schools, which are operated by the NSW colonial government in the first half of the nineteenth century.