Family history guide
Remember, it is always easier to work from the present to the past when tracing your family history.
A good place to start is with yourself: write down your date of birth and then other important dates such when you were married and when your children were born. Continue recording this basic information working back through the generations, your parents, grandparents, great grandparents...
Search the catalogue
You can search all the name & place indexes at once via the State Archives catalogue.
The catalogue is a powerful single search tool that provides access to the 1.9 million items in the State Archives Collection and the 1.7 million online index entries in the one place. Our catalogue is a valuable tool for historical research but it should be noted that other guides and finding aids in Subjects A-Z should also be consulted.
Searching for individuals
Particular individuals may be difficult to trace because the records are generally arranged by the public office that created them rather than by the person's name. When searching for individuals, your first step should be to determine what dealings the person may have had with the government of the day. You then need to consider which public office would be likely to have retained this information.
More about using the State Archives catalogue
Early colonial records
Colonial Secretary's papers, 1788-1825
These papers constitute the largest and most comprehensive collection of public records relating to the early years of European settlement in Australia. They reflect all aspects of colonial life and provide valuable information for the family historian.
Starting your family history
Popular name indexes
Browse all
Assisted Immigrants index 1839-1896
Passengers arriving in Sydney & Newcastle 1844-59, Moreton Bay 1848-59 & Port Phillip 1839-51
Convicts index 1791-1873
140,000+ entries including certificates of freedom, bank accounts, & tickets of leave
Deceased estates 1880-1958
Search 570,000+ entries of people who died leaving property or other assets & possessions ('estates') that were subject to death duties.
Births, Deaths & Marriages
Almost all research must start with birth, marriage or death records. The information supplied on birth and marriage records tends to be fairly accurate, since details are supplied by parents and prospective couples.
Death certificates frequently indicate the length of time spent in New South Wales, and are therefore very useful. It is, however, wise to remember that as this information is supplied by relatives or friends in attendance at the time, it may contain inaccuracies.
To obtain a certificate
For copies of birth, death and marriage certificates registered in NSW and NSW historical BDM indexes you need to visit the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages website. It provides access to online historical indexes: NSW Births that are over 100 years old, NSW Deaths that are over 30 years old, and NSW Marriages that are over 50 years old. More complete Family History Certificates can be purchased from the Registry.
BDM records in our collection
Registers of births deaths and marriages
We hold microfilm copies of the Registers of Births Deaths and Marriages to 1856 (volumes 1–123). The registers are indexed in the NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages indexes. The microfilm copies of the registers are available in the reading room on Reels 5001–5048. The registers are also part of the Archives Resources Kit (*ARK).
Births, deaths & marriages registers, 1787-1856
A list of the Registers of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1787-1856 which can be viewed on microfilm
Births, deaths & marriages guide
Historical information and sources for baptisms, deaths and marriages
Researchers unable to check the indexes or registers may contact the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, where, for a fee, searches are undertaken and copies of certificates supplied. Contact information is found on the Registry's website.
TD Mutch Index to BDMs
This index is believed to cover all relevant extant records relating to New South Wales from 1787–1828, except for the Newcastle Register and the Methodist Church records, and selected records to 1957. Later entries are from tombstone inscriptions and the most recent from news-cuttings and relate only to comparatively few families.
We hold a microfilm copy of the index on Reels 2125–2129 in the Reading Room. The original is held by the Mitchell Library.
Probate (wills)
The Probate Index was published by the Probate Division of the Supreme Court. The index, available in the Reading Room, shows name, residence and date of death.
Probate packets for the period 1817–1976 and 1989 may be accessed in the Reading Room. The Supreme Court NSW holds later probate packets.
Probate packets & wills guide
These records include the last will & testament. A grant of probate is the authority given by the Supreme Court of NSW to the executor(s) to deal with a deceased person's estate
Probate packets: what the files can tell you
Probate packets hold the last will and testament, codicils, an inventory of assets of the estate, affidavits of death and other papers
Ryerson index
The Ryerson Index is a free index to death notices appearing in Australian newspapers. The date range covered includes notices from the Sydney Gazette of 1803 to recent publications.
Subjects A-Z
Our suite of research guides, indexes and webinars is of particular value to family historians and is arranged alphabetically by research topic.
Some of the subjects of interest to genealogists are listed below along with relevant guides and indexes to search.
Arrivals and departures
We hold records of arrivals to Sydney prior to 1922. See the Immigration & Shipping Guide and the Shipping & Free Passengers Guide for arrivals and departures.
Records from 1923 onwards held by the National Archives of Australia.
Immigration & shipping guide
Key records and available indexes, relating to passengers arriving in New South Wales, 1788-1922
Shipping & free passenger records
This guide will assist researchers tracing free persons arriving in and departing from NSW as well as the movement of vessels
Assisted Immigrants index 1839-1896
Passengers arriving in Sydney & Newcastle 1844-59, Moreton Bay 1848-59 & Port Phillip 1839-51
All Immigration & shipping resources
Business records
We hold company registration records. See our catalogue for records of the Registrar General Companies Branch. Insolvency and bankruptcy records may also include details about businesses.
Insolvency records 1842-87 and bankruptcy records 1888-1928 are also indexed.
Business and company records
A brief overview of the main sources in our collection that relate to business and companies
Bankruptcy & insolvency guide
A brief overview of the administration of bankruptcy and a list of the main records series
All Business and company records resources
Census & musters records
Muster and census records list individuals by name and may list further personal information such as residence and the numbers or names of other people in the living in the same household.
1841 Census index
Records the population by police districts, counties & towns. The head of the household is recorded in the returns
1828 Census
Browse the digitised alphabetical returns. This was the first official census undertaken by NSW and covers some 36,500 inhabitants, both convict and free
Deaths, inquests & probates
Coroners' & inquest records such registers of coronial enquiries can establish basic details (age and birthplace) of individuals into whose deaths an enquiry was held. Detailed reports have not survived for the years 1828 to 1911.
Deceased Estate records relate to the payment of death duties, may also prove useful.
Intestate Estate files should be consulted in instances where a person died without a will.
Probate packets (see the Births, Deaths & Marriages section above) are available at State Archives for the period 1817-1976 and 1989.
Inquests & coronial records guide
Inquests are conducted by coroners and are held to investigate the manner and cause of a death or a fire. Not all deaths resulted in an inquest
Deceased estates guide
Deceased estate files are a financial record of the person's estate when they die and frequently have very detailed information about a person's possessions
More resources relating to Deceased estates, Intestates, Inquests & Probates
Land sales and transfers
Records relating to the purchase of land from the Crown, created by the Colonial Secretary, the Surveyor General and the Lands Department can be found in our catalogue.
Records relating to transfers of land between individuals are available from:
NSW Land Registry Services
Level 30, 175 Liverpool Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
02 8776 3575
1300 396 076 (regional callers)
Website: www.nswlrs.com.au
Digital copies of selected documents including land transfers may be viewed in the Reading Room on the Historical Lands Records Viewer (HLRV).
Land grants guide, 1788-1856
These records relate to the original alienation of land from the Crown. Parish maps are useful for research in this area, as they record original grants
Conditional purchase of crown land guide
This Guide provides an historical background on the conditional purchase scheme in NSW from 1862 to 1951, also known as 'free selection before survey' along with a list of the major record series and step-by-step guidance on how to access them
Land valuation guide
Land value refers to the monetary value of the land only and does not include the value of the home or other structures on the land
Maps
We have a large collection of original surveys and maps of areas in New South Wales. A good place to start if the online Index to Surveyor General's Crown Plans, 1792-1886 and the Index to Maps and Plans in the Reading Room.
Digitised parish, county, pastoral, town and municipal maps are available for viewing on the Historical Lands Records Viewer. See the County & parish maps guide for further information.
Index to Surveyor General's crown plans 1792-1886
A complete listing of the Surveyor General's Crown Plans from the Select List of Maps and Plans (and Supplement), 1792-1886
County & parish maps guide
An overview of county, parish and town/village maps created by the Department of Lands and its predecessors
How to read a parish map
Parish maps function as indexes to land titling and land tenure records. This webinar shows you how to make sense of all of the details on a parish map
Gold field/mining records
References to miners can be located in the records of the Gold Commissioners and in the records of Mining Wardens' Courts in the Department of Mines. See our catalogue under the relevant public office entries and also the Gold Mining Guide.
Gold mining guide
Goldmining can be a challenging field of research. The record series listed in this guide may assist
Gold (auriferous) lease registers 1874-1953
This index includes name of the lease holder, number, date of application, location and more
Hospital & health records
We hold records of psychiatric institutions dating from 1838. Records of State government run mental institutions are listed in our catalogue.
Infirm & destitute asylums guide
Information on the available inmate records for the Infirm and Destitute Asylums and where to find them
Liverpool State Hospital & Home guide
Patient records in our collection for Liverpool Asylum for the Infirm and Destitute (1862-1933) and Liverpool State Hospital and Home (1933-1961)
Mental health facilities guide
This guide describes the different types of patient records available and where to access them. It also provides a brief history of mental health care administration
More Health & hospitals, asylums & mental health resources
Naturalization
Naturalization legislation came into force in New South Wales in 1849 (Act 11 Vic. No. 39). Prior to then, the only way that a non-British resident could be naturalised was by a special act of Parliament. Following this legislation any person born outside the British Empire who had resided in New South Wales for a period of five years and who wished to vote or own land needed to become naturalized.
Naturalization records are an important source as they can provide both the date of arrival and the name of the ship. The guide contains a full list of records relating to denization and naturalization, 1834-1903.
The National Archives of Australia holds post 1903 naturalisation records and information on alien registration and internment in New South Wales.
Naturalization & citizenship guide
Naturalization records are a good source of information for tracing details of an immigrant's arrival and native place. This guide lists the key records in our collection relating to naturalization, 1834-1903
Naturalization index 1834-1903
Name search for c.10,000 non-British subjects wishing to own land or vote in NSW
Police, courts & prisons
Police Gazettes (NRS 10958) covering 1862-1899 and 1900-1930 contain entries and photographs of people.
Court records, court depositions and related documents provide details of people convicted in New South Wales. The various court jurisdictions can be found in our catalogue.
Prison records include, from the period of the late 1870s, photographs of prisoners with details of conviction and personal history.
Gaol photographs
We have indexed and digitised this collection of photographs of men, women and children who were incarcerated in the NSW prison system c1870–c1930
Gaol inmates & prisoners guide
Find out what types of prison records are available and how to access them
Court of Criminal Jurisdiction guide
The establishment of a NSW Court of Criminal Jurisdiction was authorised by King George III, through the First Charter of Justice (Act 27 Geo.III c.2) 1787
More Police, Lower court, Higher court and gaol resources
Professions & occupations
Our guides and indexes includes a selection of the more significant State archives relating to particular professions and occupations including police, firefighters and teachers. For Public Service Board records relating to public servants consult our catalogue.
Related guides
More Professions and occupations resources
Schools & education
These files cover the years 1876-1979 and include administrative documents relating to government schools. In addition, there are some records, such as admission rolls, from individual schools which are listed in the index.
There is also a series of school photographs (NRS-15051) and over 5,000 images have been digitised and are available to browse in the catalogue
School records guide
An overview of education in New South Wales 1788-c1979 and a list of the main record series
Schools & related index 1876-1979
30,000+ entries include administrative files & records such as admission registers, punishment books & inspection books
Schools: what the files can tell you
School files very strongly reflect the growth or decline of towns and are an excellent source for your local history research
Worksheets
These worksheets have been designed for use at home and in the Reading Room. Try to fill in as many details as possible before you visit us. You will then have a clearer idea of what types of information you need to be researching on your visit.
Archives Resources Kit
The Archives Resources Kit (ARK) consists of a wide selection of microform copies of State archives, which are of particular value to genealogists.