Australia Civil Registration

Australia

Civil Registration

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How to Find the Records

• National Library of Australia Website: Australian birth, death and marriage records
• FamilySearch Webinar: Australia BDM Civil Registration Index online tutorial

Online Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes

• Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922, index - at Ancestry.com ($)
• Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981, index - at Ancestry.com ($). Also at FindMyPast ($). Also at My Heritage ($)
• Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950, index - at Ancestry.com ($)
• Australia, Marriages, 1788-1935, index - at FindMyPast ($)
• Australia, Marriages, 1810-1980, index - at MyHeritage ($)
• Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985, index - at Ancestry.com ($)
• Australia Deaths & Burials, 1816-1980, index - at FindMyPast ($). Also at My Heritage ($)

New South Wales

• New South Wales Birth, Death, and Marriage Index

Queensland

• Queensland Family history research service for births, marriages, and deaths]

Tasmania

• 1839-1938 Australia, Tasmania, Civil Registration (District Registers), 1839-1938 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1803-1933 Australia Tasmania Civil Registration 1803-1933 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images

Western Australia

• Western Australia Online Index Search Tool

Pioneer Indexes

• New South Wales Pioneers Index, 1788–1918
• Western Australia Online Index Search Tool

State Registrars' Details and Costs of Certificates

For instructions, forms, and addresses for writing for records, find your state at this website:

• Australian Government: Births, deaths and marriages registries for each state/territory

Historical Background

The starting dates of civil registration in each colony/state or territory of Australia are:

Tasmania	1 December 1838
South Australia	1 July 1842
Western Australia	9 September 1841
Victoria	1 July 1853
Queensland	1 March 1856 Civil registration began 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.
New South Wales	1 March 1856
Northern Territory	24 August 1870 Civil registration began in the Northern Territory when it was administered from Adelaide, South Australia. 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.
Australian Capital Territory	1 January 1930 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.

Information Recorded in the Records

When civil registration first began, there was no common standard of recording information, so the information listed may vary from state to state. Later records generally give more complete information than earlier ones.

Birth records

• Surname and forenames of child
• Date and place of birth of child
• Sex of the child
• Multiple births
• Surname and forenames of father
• Age, birthplace, and occupation or rank of father
• Maiden surname and forenames of mother
• Place and year of marriage of parents
• Age and birthplace of mother
• Number and sex of previous issue, if deceased
• Name, relationship, description, and residence of informant

Marriage records

• Surname and forenames of parties
• Occupations and places of residence of parties
• Ages and places of birth of parties
• Marital status prior to the marriage
• Date and place of marriage
• Name of celebrant and denomination
• Names of witnesses
• Surnames and forenames of parents

Death records

• Surname and forenames of deceased
• Date and place of death
• Occupation, age, and sex of deceased
• Place of birth and place and date of marriage of deceased
• Length of residence in Australia and in what colonies, states, and territories
• Name of spouse and names and ages of living children of deceased
• Number and sex of issue, if deceased
• Name and occupation of father
• Maiden surname of mother
• Cause of death and duration of last illness
• Name of medical practitioner
• Date and place of burial
• Religion and name of minister or witness
• Names of undertaker and informant
• Residence and relationship or description of informant
• Date and place of civil registration
  

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