Genealogy

This collection brings together key Australian and international materials relating to genealogy. It is the starting point for all genealogical research at the State Library of Victoria, providing the means to locate individuals - from all levels of society - in a particular place, at a particular time.

While focusing mainly on materials from Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, the Library's Genealogy Collection also reflects Victoria's growing ethnic diversity through its Greek, Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Jewish records.

What's in the Genealogy Collection?

This collection includes the indexes to civil registration of births, deaths and marriages for all Australian states and territories, as well as St Catherine's House Index to civil registration in England and Wales from 1837 to 2000. Australian cemetery and immigration records, electoral rolls and directories are available, and CD-ROM provides access to the FamilySearch databases compiled by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ancestry Library Edition, a website that provides free access to over 2 billion names, is also accessible on Library computers.

In addition, the Genealogy Collection has an extensive range of supporting research materials including collective biographies, atlases, histories of surnames, research manuals and guides to primary sources held elsewhere.

Genealogy Information Guides providing practical information and lists of resources for anyone interested in finding out more about their family history are also available online.

How can I access material in this collection?

Items from the Library's Genealogy Collection are readily available in the Genealogy Centre.

You can also access two databases online: the Tetlow index to the Robert K Cole collection of Melbourne hotel records and the Darragh index to the Melbourne German Sick and Relief Society membership, 1861-1924. These indexes can be accessed from the Genealogy electronic resources page.