National Collections and Resources for Indigenous Family History

Australian Institute for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Family History Unit
AIATSIS holds a large collection of material about and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from all corners of Australia. Their website offers an online catalogue, information guides, virtual exhibitions and much more.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Biographical Index
With over 35,000 entries, AIATSIS' Aboriginal Biographical Index aims to provide a brief biographical entry of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people referred to, or depicted in published or unpublished material held in the Institute’s collections. As well as searching by personal name, you can also search by place name, language group, and more.
National Library of Australia - Mura Gadi Catalogue
Mura Gadi is a guide to material in the National Library of Australia relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It aims to provide an online pathway to these significant collections of archival materials held by the National Library as well as direct links to digitised copies of materials.

State Records Office of Western Australia
The SRO holds records relating to Government, including files which may contain personal information.
Aboriginal History Research Unit at the Department of Indigenous Affairs
The Department of Indigenous Affairs holds as a large collection personal files for Western Australian Aboriginal people and their families, as well as photographs from prominent collections such as the Tindale collection.
Family Information Records Bureau at the Department for Child Protection
The Family Information Records Bureau is working with the Department of Indigenous Affairs to help Aboriginal people to access their personal records and family history. The Bureau has access to information about Aboriginal families gathered from former Department of Native Welfare files and other government files from as early as 1920.
Berndt Museum of Anthropology
The Berndt Museum holds a large collection of Australian Aboriginal art and cultural artifacts. Visit their website for more information and to search their online database.

State Library of South Australia Aboriginal Family History
A guide to the information resources available to trace Aboriginal family histories in South Australia.
South Australian Museum Indigenous Information Centre
The Museum holds original Tindale materials which are a significant cultural resource as well as important for Aboriginal people of South Australia.

Territory Stories
Territory Stories is a repository of historical and culturally significant digital objects which have been made accessible to the public. In addition to documents and photographs, the site accommodates a range of formats including audio and video and allow users to contribute their stories.
The website includes PictureNT, StoryNT, and History NT.

State Library of Queensland - Indigenous Family History Resources
Provides information on how to access various collections including the Norman Tindale Collection, a series of genealogy sheets and photographs of Aboriginal people who lived on various Aboriginal missions throughout Australia during the period 1939 to 1959.

State Library of New South Wales - Australian Indigenous Services
Provides useful information and guides for resources relating to Aboriginal people of New South Wales.

Finding Your Story
A resource guide for finding the records of the Stolen Generation in Victoria
My Heart is Breaking
A joint guide to records about Aboriginal people in the Public Record Office of Victoria and the Australian Archives, Victorian Regional Office.

Page last updated: Monday 13 August 2012