Family History Help

When beginning your family history research it is best to start working from the known to the unknown, one generation at a time. Spend time gathering all of your existing family information, talk to relatives, and collect as many documents and photographs as you can before you begin your research. Then, starting with yourself, work backwards through birth, marriage, and death records. Information on the certificates may vary with time periods and locations, but they will contain valuable information about your ancestors' names, places of birth, and occupations. Keep track of all the information that you find using pedigree charts as you work your way back through the generations. Once you have collected this information, you will be able to identify gaps and decide what you want to look for first. Once you have decided where you want to start searching, then you can determine what types of records you will need to look at.

Many of the resources in our Local History Library can help in your family history research, whether you are just beginning or need assistance with a particular question. Some of the resources held by the library include birth, death, and marriage records, immigration records, electoral rolls, cemetery records, pioneer registers, as well as historical newspapers. Some online resources such as Ancestry and Find my Past are available for free at our Local History Library or at any of our branch libraries. These databases give you access to overseas records such as UK and US census records. Our catalogue can also assist you in accessing family history records.

National and State Libraries and Archives often provide guides to the family history records in their collections. Here are some links to these guides:

Family History Guide - National Library of Australia

Pedigree Chart - National Library of Australia

Video 'How to start your family history research', National Library of Australia

Research guide, NSW State Library

Family history guide - NSW State Records

Guide to family history research - Public Record Office of Victoria

Queensland State Archives