Family history service
This State Library of New South Wales service is designed to help you discover information about your ancestors and their histories.
For example, you could find out when your great-great-great-grandparents were born, married and died, what they did and where they lived. If they came from overseas, you might be able to find out when they came and the name of the ship in which they travelled.
If you are interested in researching Australian genealogy, and particularly that of New South Wales, you may also find useful resources in the Mitchell Library.
Family history electronic resources
A selection of databases related to family history, plus Internet links to direct you to resources containing information to help you research your family history.
Family History Research Guide
Family history and genealogy encompasses the lives and ancestry of individuals and families originating in, or connected to, New South Wales. If you have New South Wales ancestry, this guide enables you to investigate your heritage.
Getting started guides
The State Library has produced a number of Getting started guides to assist you in using the Library collections for family history research. They cover popular topics and suggest useful resources to use as starting points for research.
Major genealogical resources in the Family History Service
These include:
- Ancestry Library
- Australian birth, death and marriage indexes
- state records of New South Wales archives resources kit
- St Catherine’s house index (birth, death and marriage indexes for England and Wales)
- family search, which includes the international genealogical index
- Irish transportation records
- tithe applotment books (Ireland)
- electoral rolls
- Sands directories
- ships’ passenger lists
- indexes to cemetery records
- indexes to probate records.
Librarians in the Family History Service can advise you of other relevant Library resources and services.
If you are not able to visit the Library, please Ask a Librarian for assistance.
