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Key Resources

The following important collections are held in the Genealogy Centre on the 1st floor:
The Genealogical Research Kit
This is a major collection of records issued by the Archives Authority of New South Wales, including details of births, marriages and deaths, convicts, immigration, and land allocation for the period 1788 to 1900. For detailed information on how to use the kit, please refer to the handbook located on top of the microform cabinets.

The Colonial Secretary's Papers 1788-1825
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. Use the microfiche Index to the Papers of the New South Wales Colonial Secretary to find the microfilm reel numbers. There is also a guide to the index on top of the microform cabinets.

Archives and Libraries

State Records Authority of New South Wales
The State Records Authority of New South Wales website has many useful online indexes including passenger lists, convicts, divorces, probate, naturalisation and more.

National Archives of Australia - Sydney reading room
The National Archives houses Commonwealth government records such as military, immigration and naturalisation papers. Records date from Federation in 1901 although, for some government departments, earlier material dating back to the mid-1850s is held. Over 18 million records have been digitised and are searchable by selecting Search the collection from their home page. Other material can be viewed in their State and Territory reading rooms.

State Library of New South Wales
The State Library of New South Wales website includes information about their collections, family history research guides and an online catalogue.

Websites

Use our SLWA Family History Bookmarks to find websites for New South Wales recommended by the Family History Subject Specialists. Simply click on any heading of interest e.g. new.south.wales-passenger.lists to see a list of websites relating to this topic. The larger the tag, the more websites appear on the list.

Societies

Society of Australian Genealogists
The Society of Australian Genealogists' website includes indexes to NSW ships' musters, Sydney streets and electoral rolls, soldiers and marines, members' interests and more.

Sydney Dead Persons Society
The Sydney Dead Persons Society website gives details of their meetings and mailing list on Rootsweb.

Other Resources

 To find other material at the State Library try searching our catalogue using the keywords new south wales genealogy.