Australia & New Zealand - Collections
Australia
The largest collection of material held relates to the other States of Australia (Western Australian material is held in the Battye Library on the 3rd floor of the State Library). Over the years records of use to genealogists relating to each state have been made available for purchase on microfilm or microfiche. This has enabled records relating to births, deaths and marriages; passenger lists; electoral rolls; naturalisation and convicts in other states to be available for researchers to use in the Genealogy Centre. Each state has produced records in its own particular format and made available different sequences of records.
Genealogical Research Kits
These sources were originally created as administrative documents by the colonial governments of each state and are not always easy to use. In some cases indexes and guidebooks have been created to assist the researcher.
In the case of New South Wales and Queensland, genealogical research kits have been assembled. The Archives Office of New South Wales has produced a large collection of records known as the Genealogical Research Kit. This collection, consisting of microfilm and microfiche together with a guide, includes birth, death and marriage records; shipping arrivals and passenger lists; convict arrivals, musters and registers of ticket of leave and conditional pardons; land grants and leases; naturalisation records; early electoral rolls and assorted occupational and professional lists. For information on how to use the Kit, please refer to the guide How to Use the Genealogical Research Kit.
The Queensland State Archives has produced a collection of microfilm and microfiche together with detailed guides known as the Queensland Public Records Historical Resource Kit. This kit is in three parts concentrating on immigration, naturalisation and historical electoral rolls. Other States, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory also have made records available on microfiche.
To make this collection easier for researchers to use the boxes housing microfilm and microfiche records and the bound guides have been colour coded as follows: yellow = New South Wales; purple and dark blue = Victoria; light blue = Queensland; green = South Australia; red = Tasmania; orange = Northern Territory.
Australian War Memorial
A collection of microfiche produced by the Australian War Memorial (AWM) is also available. The Nominal roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad 1914-1918 (AWM 133) consists of 185 microfiche and lists individuals in alphabetical order by surname. Unit embarkation nominal rolls 1914-1918 (AWM 8) consists of 2000 microfiche and a guide book listing details of individuals (including name, address, marital status and next of kin) arranged by regimental number. The Nominal roll of deceased, 1914-1918 War (AWM 136) consists of 245 microfiche and records those who died in service with the AIF. Individuals are listed in the roll alphabetically by surname and information provided includes regimental number, rank, name in full, unit, place and date of enlistment, nature of casualty, place and date of casualty and place of burial.
Australian Joint Copying Project
The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) was established following World War II with the aim of copying records relating to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific held in British archives and repositories. Much of the material was copied from the Public Record Office in London where non-current English official records are held. Various government offices were involved in the administration of colonial Australia, including the Colonial Office, the War Office, the Admiralty and the Home Office. Printed guides to the microfilm assists researchers in locating appropriate records. A comprehensive collection of AJCP microfilm is available for use on the first floor. For a more detailed description of the AJCP click here.
Pacific Manuscript Bureau
A selection of Pacific Manuscript Bureau microfilm is also available for use. This collection of historical documents focuses on whaling logbooks and other documents copied from repositories in New England, USA. Many of the whalers detailed came to Australian and Western Australian waters. Several guides to this series exist including Robert Langdon's American whalers and traders in the Pacific: a guide to records on microfilm, which has an index to whalers and to captains.
New Zealand
A range of records to assist genealogists researching family history in New Zealand is available. Birth, death and marriage records; post office directories; and lists of those who served in World Wars I and II are available on microform. A number of books providing background information about New Zealand and guidance on how to conduct family history research are also available.