Australian Capital Territory Civil Registration

Australia

Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory Civil Registration

Australian Capital Territory Wiki Topics
Beginning Research
Getting Started Guided Research Research Strategies Record Finder
Record Types
Census Business and Occupations Cemeteries Church Records Civil Registration Court Records Directories Emigration & Immigration	Genealogies Land and Property Military Records Newspapers Online Records Probate Records Taxation Voting Records
Australian Capital Territory Background
History	Maps
Local Research Resources
Archives & Libraries Societies FamilySearch Centers

How to Find Records

• National Library of Australia Website: Australian birth, death and marriage records: Australian Capital Territory
• FamilySearch Webinar: Australia BDM Civil Registration Index online tutorial. Indexes for some states have been added since this class was recorded: Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Tasmania

Online Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes

• Australian Capital Territory Marriages - at FindMyPast ($). Index.
• Australian Capital Territory Deaths - at FindMyPast ($). Index.
• Australia, Birth, Marriage, and Death Exchange, index
• 1788-1922 - Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922, index - at Ancestry.com ($)
• 1792-1981 - Australia Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981, index, incomplete. How to Use this Collection
• 1792-1981 - Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981, index - at Ancestry.com ($). Also at FindMyPast ($). Also at My Heritage ($)
• 1788-1950 - Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950, index - at Ancestry.com ($)
• 1788-1935 - Australia, Marriages, 1788-1935, index - at FindMyPast ($)
• 1810-1980 - Australia Marriages, 1810-1980, index, incomplete. How to Use this Collection
• 1810-1980 - Australia, Marriages, 1810-1980, index - at MyHeritage ($)
• 1787-1985 - Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985, index - at Ancestry.com ($)
• 1816-1980 - Australia Deaths and Burials, 1816-1980, index. How to Use this Collection
• 1816-1980 - Australia Deaths & Burials, 1816-1980, index - at FindMyPast ($). Also at My Heritage ($)
• 1851-1997 - Australia Newspaper Vital Notices, 1851-1997 - at Ancestry, ($), index, incomplete.
• 1860-2019 - Australia Death Notices, 1860-2019, ($), index

History

Prior to 1911 the area now known as the 'Australian Capital Territory' was administratively part of New South Wales. Between 1 January 1911 and 29 July 1938 it was officially known as the 'Federal Capital Territory'. NB: For births in the Canberra region prior to 1918 see the indexes of New South Wales. For marriage and death records prior to 1930 also see New South Wales. Registrations of these events in the Canberra region may be recorded under the Districts of Queanbeyan or Yass.

Rights of Privacy

Rights of privacy laws limit access to records recent enough to contain information about living persons. You can access any of the following records:

• births that happened over 100 years ago
• deaths that happened over 30 years ago
• marriages that happened over 75 years ago

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
  

For records created since the cut-off dates, only these people have access to a record:

• the person named on the birth, marriage or change of name record
• an immediate family member named on the death certificate, such as a spouse, parent or child
• a parent, grandparent or guardian of a child over 18 years old who wishes to apply for a birth certificate and who has given written permission.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.