Australia Genealogy

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Australia Background

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Cultural Groups

Cultural Groups Chinese in Australia

Local Research Resources

Archives & Libraries Societies Local FamilySearch Center

Oceania

Australia

Guide to Australia ancestry, family history and genealogy: parish registers, transcripts, census records, birth records, marriage records, and death records.

Information

European explorers began arriving in what is now Australia in the 17th century. In 1770, Great Britain claimed Australia as a territory. The "First Fleet" of European settlers arrived in 1788 with ships of convicts. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. English is the official language.

Australia Online Genealogy Records

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Australia Map

When doing Australian research, it is helpful to know where one's family or ancestors lived in Australia. Click on a state name or on the map below to learn about research in an Australian state or territory.

Jurisdictions

States

After federation many governmental functions whose records are of interest to family historians remained the responsibility of the States. For example, the registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages is a State function; the Commonwealth was only responsible for these functions in the territories until the territory achieved responsible self-government. Click on a state below to go to the state Wiki article listing more information.

New South Wales (NSW) Queensland (QLD) South Australia (SA)

Tasmania (TAS) Victoria (VIC) Western Australia (WA)

Territories

• Australian Capital Territory(ACT)
• Jervis Bay Territory (JBT)
• Northern Territory
• Ashmore and Cartier Islands (uninhabited)
• Australian Antarctic Territory
• Christmas Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
• Coral Sea Islands (population: 4)
• Heard Island and McDonald Islands (uninhabited)
• Norfolk Island

Former Australian Territories

The New Zealand Islands (1788-1840) (as part of the Colony of New South Wales) Territory of Papua (1906–42)

Territory of New Guinea (1920–42) Territory of Papua & New Guinea (1942–71)

Territory of Papua New Guinea (1971–75) Territory of Nauru (1920–68)

State Boundaries

• Map showing changes of state boundaries from 1788 to 1989 at Maphover - animated map