Northern Territory Civil Registration

From FamilySearch Wiki
Northern Territory Wiki Topics
Flag of the Northern Territory.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Northern Territory Background
Local Research Resources


How to Find the Records[edit | edit source]

Online Records[edit | edit source]


History[edit | edit source]

Administration of the area now known as the Northern Territory was by New South Wales until 1863. For births, deaths and marriages from the beginning of Civil Registration in 1856 to 1863 see New South Wales.

Between 1863-1870 administration of the Northern Territory was from Adelaide, South Australia and civil registration of births, deaths and marriages for that period can be found in South Australian records.[1]

Rights of Privacy[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. National Library of Australia Website: Australian birth, death and marriage records: Northern Territory, https://www.nla.gov.au/research-guides/australian-birth-marriage-and-death-records/northern-territory, accessed 26 January 2022.