Indigenous Resources

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images or names of deceased persons in photographs or printed material.

If you are looking for information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families, communities and places there are a range of resources to help you with your research. To check what resources the Library holds, you can search the catalogue and Newcastle Collections Online.

We have also put together a list of online Indigenous resources that may help you with your research:

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs is the custodian of the records created by the Aborigines Protection and Welfare Boards, who operated from 1883 until 1969 and who were the main government agency responsible for administering legislation relating to Aboriginal people of NSW. They operate the Family Records Service to help Aboriginal people in NSW access records about themselves and their families. To access the records, you must complete an application form.

The State Library of NSW has a vast collection of resources relating to Aboriginal people. The State Library of NSW also has an online index, the Australian Indigenous Index (INFOKOORI), which is a biographical index to the Koori Mail newspaper, the Dawn and New Dawn magazines (1952-1975), Our Aim newsletter (1907-1961), Identity magazine (1971-1982) and various other newspaper and magazine articles.

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Studies or AIATSIS, provides a range of services and has a large collection of resources for Indigenous people. The family history page is particularly useful. They also have a Biographical Index (ABI) which is a personal name index to published material held in their library.

The National Library of Australia has a large range of resources to provide you with more information about resources relating to Indigenous people including pictures and photographs.

NSW State Records and Archives have produced a guide that provides a listing and description of records held by them which relate to Aboriginal people.

Link-up NSW is a family tracing and reunion service which helps Aboriginal people separated from their families.

NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages indexes can be accessed online and Ancestry.com can be accessed at your local public library.