Census

Mary Lott was recorded in
the York 1859 census as a
12 year-old living with her
parents [State Library of
Western Australia; 203725P]

The first population counts in Australia were known as musters and were held in the earliest years of European settlement.

In later years, regular official census counts were conducted by the government. However, once the statistical data had been extracted, in most cases the personal information was discarded. Because of this, you need to consider using alternative sources such as electoral rolls and directories.

Census history
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has some interesting articles on the history of census taking in Australia.

Listed below is a table showing those musters and censuses containing personal information which are available for Western Australia.

The Lott family census entry [1859 York Census; page 278;
State Records Office of Western Australia]

Year	Title	Format	Comments
1829	Returns relative to the settlement on the Swan River	Eresource	Digital copy of rare book. Information included in this muster: name, age, place of birth, married or single, to what country subject, and profession or calling.
1829	Abstract from General Muster Book showing the amount and description of population at the end of the year...	Microfilm	Original despatch to the Colonial Office showing the same information as above. Colonial Office CO 18/7, pp 9-25 (handwritten) and 57-65 (printed). (AJCP reel PRO 296).
1832	A Colony detailed: the first census of Western Australia	Book	A detailed analysis of the 1832 census, giving a numerical listing, an alphabetical listing and detailed notes on the people listed. Information included in this census: name, age, condition (marital status), place of birth, profession or calling, ship of arrival and with whom arrived.
1832	Census of Western Australia, 1832	Microfilm	Original despatch to the Colonial Office showing the same information as above. Colonial Office CO 18/10, pp 112-156 (AJCP reel PRO 298).
1832	Census of Western Australia, 1832	Book	Reproduction of microfilm listed above.
1836	A Return of the Population of the Colony of Western Australia taken on 1st January 1836	Microfilm	Original despatch to the Colonial Office. Information included in this census: name, age, calling and place of residence. Colonial Office CO 18/16, pp 78-97 and 213-217 (AJCP reel PRO 301).
1836	A Return of the Population of the Colony of Western Australia taken on 1st January 1836	Book	Reproduction of microfilm listed above. Held in the Leah Jane Cohen Reading Room (3rd floor).
1837	Census of Western Australia, 1837	Book	Transcribed from Colonial Secretary's Office records (CSO Vol. 58). Originals held at State Records Office. Information included in this census: name, whether over or under 12 years of age, married or single, occupation, where living and place of birth.
1837	Census of Western Australia, 1837	Microfilm	Original despatch to the Colonial Office showing the same information as above. Colonial Office CO 18/18, pp 76-97 and 211-216 (AJCP reel PRO 301).
1859	1859 Census Returns for York	Eresource	Only the returns from York have survived from the 1859 census. These can be browsed on the State Records Office of Western Australia website. Information included in this census: name, sex, age, married or single, religion, occupation, literacy (read & write or read only), status (free, conditional pardon or ticket-of-leave), name of the ship in which the person arrived in the colony, year of arrival in the colony and country where born.
1859	1859 Census Returns for York	Card Index	An alphabetical card listing of entries in the 1859 York census is available at the end of the WA Biographical Index cards in the Battye Library on the 3rd floor.

Page last updated: Friday 8 February 2013