Family History Indexes

Related Links

The State Library holds many indexes which can be used to locate information on people. Some of these have been created in-house and are usually indexes to information contained in specific items or collections. Others have been purchased from outside organisations. Key indexes are noted below and others can be located in the State Library Catalogue. Some indexes in card form can only be found in the Battye Library or the State Records Office.

Registrar General's Office Indexes to Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates

• The Western Australian Pioneers Index 1841-1905 [microform]
  This is an index produced by the Registrar General's Office to all Western Australian registered births, deaths and marriages for the period 1841-1905. It is also available on CD-ROM and been placed on-line with further entries to 1932 (births), 1927 (marriages) and 1953 (deaths).
• Index to General Register of Deaths 1841-1980 [microform]
  This is an index produced by the Registrar General's Office to all registered Western Australian deaths in the period 1841-1980 (for the period 1841-1953 it is better to use the on-line index as it provides more information).
• Index to General Register of Marriages 1841-1965 [microform]
  This is an index produced by the Registrar General's Office to all registered Western Australian marriages in the period 1841-1965 (for the period 1841-1921 it is better to use the on-line index as it provides more information).
• Marriages Registered in the State of Western Australia [microform]
  Neither the Index to General Register of Marriages 1906-1965 nor the on-line marriages registered 1906-1921 allow you to match up husband and wife (i.e. if you only know the name of one partner you have no way of finding the other without going through the whole index for that year). This index allows you to match up registration numbers. At present it covers the period 1906 -1917. As well the Western Australian Genealogical Society has produced a Marriage Index of Western Australia 1915-1933 (on CD-ROM), which is searchable by name and also allows you to find the name of a partner.

Cemetery Indexes

• On-line Index for Karrakatta, Pinnaroo, Midland and Guildford Cemeteries
  This on-line index is produced by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board and covers all burials and cremations at Karrakatta Cemetery (which is Perth's main metropolitan cemetery) from its inception in 1897 up to date (and also for Pinnaroo, Midland and Guildford Cemeteries). The index is updated periodically. Information provided includes the full name of the person, place of residence at time of death, plot details, age at time of death, date of death and application numbers.
• Western Australian Cemeteries Index [microform]
  Compiled by members of the Western Australian Genealogical Society this very useful set of indexes lists burials at various cemeteries throughout Western Australia. They have either been transcribed from headstones or taken from burial registers.

Convict Indexes

• Index [microform] : Australian Joint Copying Project Prison Commission registers, AJCP P. Com. 2, reels 5971-5991
  This index has been compiled from English Prison Commission Registers and directs the enquirer to the relevant page in the Registers (on microfilm). Detailed information for each prisoner is provided and convicts sent to Western Australia are included.
• Ticket of Leave Registers, Occurrence Books and Prison Earnings [microform]
  This index has been compiled from Perth Ticket of Leave Registers and Occurrence Books held by the State Records Office which contain information on convicts in the Perth district.
• W.A. Convict Registers [microform] : Acc. 128
  This index has been compiled from various Convict Registers and Lists held by the State Records Office which contain information on Western Australian convicts.
• Western Australian Convicts, "R" series [microform]
  This index has been compiled from Convict Registers held by the State Records Office which contain information on Western Australian convicts.
• Parkhurst Prison Register Index [microform]
  This is an index to a Parkhurst Prison Register held by the State Records Office which contains information on boys incarcerated in Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight. Some Parkhurst boys were sent to Western Australia.

Baptism, Marriage and Burial Indexes from Church Records and Newspapers

• Western Australian Marriages [microform]
  This index contains entries transcribed from various Anglican Marriage Registers held by the State Records Office.
• Western Australian Baptisms [microform]
  This index contains entries compiled from various Anglican Baptismal Registers held by the State Records Office and some Roman Catholic records still held by the church.
• Nineteenth Century Newspapers [microform]: Births, Deaths, Marriages
  This index was compiled by the Western Australian Genealogical Society from Western Australian nineteenth century newspapers such as The Perth Gazette, The West Australian and The Inquirer and lists baptism, burial and marriage notices.
• Ken Stewart's Burials in the Mid-West of Western Australia, 1851-1896 [microform]
  This is an index of all known burials in cemeteries, pastoral stations and any other location sited between the Irwin River and the Murchison River and covers 1851-1896.
• St. George's Cathedral Perth (Anglican) Burial Registers, 1854-1916 [microform]
  This index was compiled by the Western Australian Genealogical Society from Burial Registers of St George's Cathedral and lists the names of all burial services at the cathedral in the period 1854-1916

Passenger Arrivals Indexes

• Shipping Passenger Arrivals from Overseas, Albany, Western Australia, 1873-1899 [microform]
  This index was compiled by the Western Australian Genealogical Society from Immigration Department records held by the National Archives (Western Australian Branch) and from passenger lists held by the State Records Office. Only passengers disembarking at Albany have been recorded, but people continuing on to the Eastern States are included on the original passenger lists.
• Shipping Passenger Arrivals from Overseas, Albany, Western Australia, 1898-1925 [microform]
  This index was compiled by the Western Australian Genealogical Society from Immigration Department records held by the National Archives (Western Australian Branch) and from passenger lists held by the State Records Office. Only passengers disembarking at Albany have been recorded, but people continuing on to the Eastern States are included on the original passenger lists.
• Albany Shipping Arrivals Interstate, 1873-1924 [microform]
  This index was compiled by the Western Australian Genealogical Society and records passengers arriving at Albany from interstate. The bulk of the entries are for the 1890s.
• Arrivals at Fremantle 1829-1890 [microform]
  This index was compiled from official and newspaper passenger lists held by the State Records Office and the Battye Library and records passengers arriving at Fremantle and some other ports in the period 1829-1890. A CD-ROM for the period 1839-1890 is also held. The Western Australian Genealogical Society is currently indexing Fremantle arrivals for 1898-1925 and the National Archives has indexed Fremantle arrivals 1926-1946. Go to their website, click on Record Search, then Search Now as a Guest User, then Passenger Index. It is also possible to find information by just doing a General Search which may list immigration records, and often the name of a ship on which the person arrived after 1946 will be noted in the entry. 
• Shipping Passenger Arrivals [microform] : Fremantle Interstate, 1885-1908
  This index was compiled by the Western Australian Genealogical Society and records passengers arriving at Fremantle from interstate. The bulk of the entries are for the late 1890s.

Miscellaneous Indexes

• Biographical Index (Battye) [microform and card]
  This is an index compiled by the staff of the Battye Library containing information on Western Australians found in books, serials, newspapers and official records. It is on microfiche and was closed in 1984. All indexing from 1984 to date has been done into the State Library Catalogue.
• Mining Lease Names 1 January 1892 to 31 December 1909 [microform]
  This is an index of mining lease holders in Western Australia 1892-1909.
• Western Australian Government Railways Employees [microform] / Series 1. 1879-1905
  This index, compiled by Mrs R. Downing, lists railway employees noted in various Western Australian Government Railway Employment Registers 1879-1905.
• Index to Grants of Probate and Grants of Letters of Administration. Consignment 3435, 1832-1939 [microform]
  This is an index to wills and letters of administration (drawn up when a person dies intestate) 1832 -c1939. The index provides the will or letter of administration number, name of executor or administrator and date of death.
• Swanleigh [microform] : Admission and Discharge Records, 1868-1960
  This index lists admission and discharge records at Swanleigh Anglican Home 1868-1960.