State Archives Collection

This covers a variety of topics including information on open and closed periods and where copies of our records are held in our community access points and regional archives centres

The NSW Anzac Centenary website highlights records from the State archives relating to key events and historical themes associated with NSW and World War I

Records from the Colonial (Government) Architect; photos of public buildings in NSW, hospital buildings records relating to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House

Inmate records for the Infirm and Destitute Asylums and where to find them

Insolvency - inability to satisfy creditors or discharge liabilities Bankruptcy - similar but also involves the sequestration of a person's assets when they are unable to meet the demands of creditors

Please visit the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages website for copies of birth, death and marriage certificates registered in NSW and NSW historical BDM indexes.

Population statistics and returns

A record of the Bubonic Plague that hit in Sydney of the early 20th century

Records relating to orphans, foster care, State wards, adoption and other out-of-home care

At the first establishment of the colony for a long time no piece of ground was set apart for a Burial place

Population muster and census records, 1788-1901

Records and indexes relating to child care and protection; child / youth migration from the UK; Randwick Asylum; Scheyville Training Farm

Information on how to request permission to publish and how to cite records accurately

The correspondence of the Colonial Secretary is one of the most valuable sources of information on all aspects of the history of the Colony and the State of NSW

The Conditional Purchase scheme, also known as 'free selection before survey', ran from 1862 to 1951

Conservation treatments and tips, including caring for your family photos

How do you know if there was a convict in your family? Find out where to start and how to research our vast selection of convict resources including transportation records, assignment, tickets of leave, pardons & more

Find out how copyright affects your use of State archives

Court of Quarter Sessions, the District Court and Supreme Court

Bench of Magistrates, Court of Claims, Governors Court, Vice Admiralty Court

Sources in our collection that relate to divorce and procedures for accessing Divorce Case Papers

It is always easier to work from the present to the past when tracing your family history. Find out more in our Guide for Family Historians

The federation of the six Australian colonies into the Commonwealth of Australia took over fifty years from its beginnings in the 1840s

A brief historical overview of the Female Factory and a list of the main record series

Resources to help you access archives relating to First Nations people

Find out where to start your online research using the NSW State archives and and how to prepare for a visit to the reading room.

Including Government Gazettes and Police Gazettes

Find the key records and indexes for passengers 1788-1922

Inquests are conducted by coroners and are held to investigate the manner and cause of death, fires

We have number of resources to help you trace the history of a place (rather than focusing on individuals)

Government Architect, Surveyors, Land Grants, Crown Land, Conditional Purchase

Records of migration from China, France, Holland, India, Lebanon, Malta, Poland, Russia

Naturalisation records are a good source of information for tracing details of an immigrant's arrival and native place. The key records in our collection relating to naturalisation cover 1834-1903.

A look at the relationship between New South Wales and New Zealand from the early 1800s to Federation.

Includes applications for registration c.1947-1973

A system whereby owners could convert land granted prior to 1863 to Real Property Act title

Records in a Probate packet include the last will and testament

Access railway records, including employment, locomotives, photos, plans

Follow this subject for item lists of selected record series

Responsible government shifted responsibility from the Imperial Parliament and its colonial representatives to local decision making

Our guarantees of services

Special Bundles contain correspondence and papers on particular matters or subjects which because of their significance or the quantity of correspondence generated were usually extracted from an agency's main correspondence series and treated separately

Education records in NSW 1788-c.1979 plus the main records, indexes, photos, teachers

A brief overview of the major sources in our collection relating to the opening and operation of Taronga Zoo at Mosman

At the direction of the Colonial Secretary, in 1866, the Inspector General of Police was asked to report on persons out of employment in Sydney

Detail Sheets created by the Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board (MWS&DB) c.1904-1945 and how to access them

Highlighting several areas, or 'gateways', for researching on women in the State archives