Australia Deaths - What else you can try
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This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find death information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the death section of the Australia Guided Research page.
Additional Online Resources
Additional Databases and Online Resources
- 1800s-1980s: Australia Death Collections Did you sign into FamilySearch? If not, do so now to view more available databases. at FamilySearch - (List of collections) Australia Cemetery Inscriptions, 1802-2005
Australia Deaths and Burials, 1816-1980
Australia, New South Wales, Deceased Estate Files, 1880-1923
Australia, Queensland Cemetery Records, 1802-1990
Australia, Tasmania, Civil Registration (District Registers), 1839-1938
Australia, Tasmania, Civil Registration, 1803-1933
Australia, Victoria, Tombstone Transcriptions from Various Cemeteries, 1850-1988 - 1816-1980: Australia Deaths and Burials at MyHeritage ($)
- 1860-2019: Australia Death Notices at MyHeritage ($)
- 1900-2019: Australia, Index of Burials at MyHeritage ($)
Substitute Records
Additional Records with Death Information
Substitute records can contain information about more than one event, and are used when records for an event are not available. Because the substitute records may not be created at the time of the event, it may contain incorrect information. Search for as many substitute records as possible to corroborate information found in substitute records to help improve accuracy.
| Use these substitute records to locate death information about your ancestor: | ||
| Why to search the records | ||
| Monumental or tombstone inscriptions and records created when a deceased individual was interred in a cemetery. | ||
| Death registration lists the deceased's death date and place, gender, age, and their occupation (or parent's name if a child). | ||
| Military records may include any death information for servicemen who died in service. | ||
| May contain death notices and obituaries. | ||
| Wills and probate list death date and place. | ||
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Tips for finding deaths
Successfully finding death records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
- Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
- Search given name. Search by given name (leave out the last name) with the approximate date of birth or death.
- Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate birth date or parent's names if known.
- Date range. Expand the date range of the search a few years.
- Search state/territory. Search using the state/territory name only instead of by town/city.
Why the Record may not Exist
Known Record Gaps
Records Start
The dates of commencement of civil registration in each colony/state and territory are:
| State | Start Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tasmania | 1838 1-Dec | |
| South Australia | 1842 1-Jul | |
| Western Australia | 1841 9-Sep | |
| Victoria | 1853 1-Jul | |
| Queensland | 1856 1-Mar | ¶ Note 1 |
| New South Wales | 1856 1-Mar | |
| Northern Territory | 1870 24-Aug | ¶ Note 2 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 1930 1-Jan | ¶ Note 3 |
- Note 1. Civil registration commenced in Queensland when it was still part of the Colony of New South Wales. The relevant records were transferred to the control of the new Colony of Queensland at its formation in 1859.
- Note 2. Civil registration began in the Northern Territory when it was administered from Adelaide. Responsibility was taken over by the Commonwealth from South Australia in 1911. The function was transferred to the Northern Territory Government in 1978 when internal self-government was granted.
- Note 3. Civil registration began in the Australian Capital Territory from the creation of the Territory. At first, the function was carried out by New South Wales until 1930 when the Commonwealth took over. In 1988, the function was transferred to the Government of the Australian Capital Territory when internal self-government was granted.
Records Destroyed
Some records may have been lost, destroyed, or damaged. More specific information is not known. Civil registration records are generally complete.