Commonwealth Civil Registration Start Dates

From 1st July 1837, the registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages in England and Wales became the responsibility of the state, (although this wasn't compulsory until 1874). However, it took a while for the rest of the UK and Commonwealth to follow suit.

So far, I have found dates for the begining of civil registration for the following:

Australia

         1838    Tasmania 

         1841    Western Australia 

         1842    South Australia 

         1842     Victoria 

         1856    New South Wales 

         1856    Queensland 

         1870   Northern Territory - Births only 

         1872    Northern Territory - Deaths and Marriages 

         1930     Australian Capital Territory 

Canada

         1864     Nova Scotia - doesn't cover Births and Deaths between 1876 and 1908 

         1869    Ontario 

         1870    North West Terriorries 

         1872    British Columbia 

         1878    Saskatchewan 

         1882    Manitoba 

         1888    New Brunswick 

         1891    Newfoundland 

         1897    Alberta 

         1898    Yukon 

         1906    Prince Edward Island 

         1926    Quebec 

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Guernsey, Alderney and Sark

     Guernsey 

         1840    Births, Deaths and non - Anglican Marriages 

     Alderney 

         1850    Births, Deaths and non - Anglican Marriages 

     Sark 

         1915    Deaths 

     Guernsey, Alderney and Sark 

         1919    Marriages 

     Guernsey, Alderney and Sark 

         1925    All Births, Deaths and Marriages 

N.B. Until 1949 you may find a married woman's death recorded under her maiden name. 

During World War Two many people left the Channel Islands for England, or were interned in Germany. Should you be unable to find a Birth, Death or Marriage during German occupation, copies of forms submitted for the issue of ID cards ( along with photographs ) are held in the Jersey and Guernsey archives respectively, and are a very good alternative as every Channel Islander had to carry one. Lists are also available of all those who were deported.

Isle of Man

         1849    Births and Marriages - voluntary
 

         1878    Births and Deaths - compulsory
 

         1884    Marriages - compulsory
 

Jersey

         1842    Births, Deaths and Marriages 

New Zealand

         1848    All Births, Deaths and Marriages - voluntary
 

         1856    Births, Deaths and Marriages of Europeans - compulsory
 

         1911    Marriages of Maoris - compulsory
 

         1913    Births and Deaths of Maoris - compulsory 

Scotland

         1855    Births, Deaths and Marriages 

South Africa

         1820    Cape of Good Hope - Marriages (incomplete) 

         1895    Cape of Good Hope - All Births, Deaths and Marriages 

         1868    Natal 

         1901    Transvaal 

         1902    Orange Free State 

         1923    All Births, Deaths and Marriages for the whole of South Africa 

N. B. Before 1923 records are held in provincial archives, after this date they are held centrally by the Department of Home Affairs.