Resources for First Nations family history
On this page you will find resources ranging from government services to church records that might help you with your family history research.
Access
A Library card may be needed to access some of the resources, or they may only be available in the Library.
You can apply for a free Library card online or when you visit.
There are many places to look for information about your family history, both outside and in the Library. This is a list of the resources we frequently turn to.
Useful resources
- Births, Deaths and Marriages
Ridgeway - Maher wedding party, Karuah AIM, December 1927. (Call number: PXA 773/Box 1, 2) Use the Historical Indexes to find registers of people who were born, married or died in NSW. You can search freely for information about births over 100 years ago, deaths over 30 years ago and marriages from over 50 years ago.
As well as the year of birth, marriage or death you will usually find where the event was registered, your ancestor's parents' names and women's maiden names. Not all births, deaths and marriages were officially recorded.
These records of births, deaths and marriages in NSW date from 1856. Early church records from 1788 to 1855 are also available.
Use the NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages Family ancestry search guide for help using their resources.
- Apply for recent certificates from NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
You can apply for a copy of a recent certificate through the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages. You need to be eligible to apply as there are strict rules regarding individual privacy in NSW. Check the application form for details on eligibility.
You will be charged a fee by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages when you apply for a copy of a certificate.
- New South Wales pioneers index 1788-1918 (Aboriginal births, 1909-1918)
Use the pioneers index microfiche in the Library to start putting together your family tree. You can find where and when a birth was registered, as well as the parents' names.
- Church records
These are much the same as BDM, only they list christenings, marriages, and burials. To work out whether your community had/has a church, consult Parish Registers of Australia.
- Obituaries
Obituaries can be found on TROVE newspapers and gazettes, and on the Ryerson Index.
- Cemeteries
Monumental inscriptions are generally created by Historical Societies and published in book format.
Cemeteries can also be found online at Find a cemetery in NSW or the Australian Cemetries Index for NSW which contains many online inscriptions.
- Electoral rolls
We have electoral rolls available on microfiche in the Governor Marie Bashir Reading Room. Electoral rolls can also be found on Ancestry Library Edition, available to Readers of the Library and in public libraries. Search the electoral rolls to find out where people lived at particular times. The electoral rolls are arranged alphabetically by surname. In older electoral rolls the occupation of individuals is also given. Before 1984 Aboriginal people were not required to enrol to vote although many did.
Visit the Family history area in the Governor Marie Bashir Reading Room to search the rolls.
Getting started: NSW Electoral Rolls [PDF]
Use this guide when searching electoral rolls at the Library. The guide will help you to find people on NSW (and other states) electoral rolls.- Missions and Reserves
Find out about Missions and Reserves at these well-sourced Wikipedia entries
Aboriginal reserves in N.S.W., a land rights research aid is a comprehensive listing of Aboriginal reserves established in NSW, detailing when started and/or closed.
- Tindale genealogies
The Tindale genealogies are detailed genealogical information collected by Norman Tindale in the 1930-40s and can provide apical ancestor information.
- Koori Mail
The Koori Mail is an Australian newspaper written and owned by Indigenous Australians since 1991.
- Australian Indigenous Index
The Australian Indigenous Index is an index to the Koori Mail, that focuses on the Indigenous people of Australia, from May 1991 to July 2016. It is also an index to biographical information from various magazines including: Our Aim (1907-1961), Dawn (1952-1969), New Dawn (1970-1975) and Identity (1971-1982).
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Biographical Index (ABI) - AIATSIS
This is an Australia-wide biographical index of First Nations people from publications held at AIATSIS. You can access Aboriginal Biographical Index (ABI) from anywhere. You don't need a Library card.
Search the index to find where a record is located, for example, in a book or newspaper.
After your search you can search the Library catalogue to see if we hold the particular publication or search Trove to see if any libraries near you hold the particular publication or, visit the AIATSIS Library.
- Minutes of the meetings of the New South Wales Aboriginal Protection Board and the Aboriginal Welfare Board
Search this index to find names of Aboriginal people mentioned in the Boards' meetings (1890-1969).
You will need to apply for permission from Aboriginal Affairs to view the records at State Records NSW.- Trove
Trove brings together catalogues of state and territory libraries, as well as university libraries which you can search in one place. It also has digitised versions of newspapers and government gazettes which can be useful for family history, as well as pictures and maps. It is a free resource.
- Ancestry Library Edition
Ancestry Library Edition can be accessed while you are in the State Library. It has a variety of records available including birth, death and marriages, electoral rolls, cemeteries and jail records.
- Websites
- Finding Your Ancestors: Researching Aboriginal Family History in NSW - Royal Australian Historical Society
- Family history - AIATSIS
- Family History Kit - AIATSIS
- Australian Indigenous family history - National Library of Australia
- Indigenous Australian Family History Resources - Moruya and District Historical Society
- Tips for Records and Family Searching - Find & Connect
- Researching your family - National Archives of Australia
- Finding your Family - North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health
- Pathfinders NSW — A History of NSW Aboriginal Trackers
- Indigenous family history beyond the National Archives - National Archives of Australia
- Koorie Family History Service
Other states
- Step by step guide - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family history - State Library of Queensland
- Aboriginal people and family history - State Library Victoria
- Family history - Aboriginal History Research Services - State Library of Western Australia
- Aboriginal family history - State Library of Western Australia
- Aboriginal Family History - State Library South Australia
- Aboriginal Families - State Records - Government of South Australia
Other organisations with First Nations records
Many other organisations also hold records that could have important information about your family history.
Government records
- Aboriginal Affairs
Family Records Services
The Family Records Unit at Aboriginal Affairs helps people from New South Wales to access government records about themselves and their family. They can also give researchers permission to access the Aborigines Protection Board and Aborigines Welfare Board records.
Get a copy of the "Finding your Mob" Personal Family History Research Application Form by contacting Family Records Services.
Stolen Generations Reparations
The forced removal of Aboriginal children by the Aborigines Welfare Board under the Aborigines Protection Act had individual and widespread impacts on families and communities.
- State Records NSW
Aboriginal people
Lists information about various resources and records relating to Aboriginal people.
Aboriginal Resources: Guide to NSW State archives
This guide consists of a listing and description of records held in the State Records collection which relate to Aboriginal people.
- NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages
Family History Search
Free access to records of births, marriages and deaths in NSW that date back to 1788.
Family history research guide
Tips to successfully complete a search of births, marriages and deaths records.
Ancestry research help and support
Find out what you can search, about the search results, how to order certificates, paid search services and who to contact for support.
- Australian War Memorial
Indigenous Service
Links to Australian War Memorial’s resources related to the wartime experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Adoption Information Unit
Adoptions before 2010: applying if you're 18 or over
Find information about past adoptions that occurred before 2010, for people over the age of 18 with and without direct entitlement.
- Post Adoption Resource Centre
Post Adoption Resource Centre
The Post Adoption Resource Centre (PARC) provides information, counselling, intermediary services, therapeutic groups and support to people affected by adoption in NSW.
- Find & Connect
Find & Connect
History and information about Australian orphanages, children's homes and other institutions.
Wattle Place
Wattle Place is a service to support those people who grew up in orphanages, children’s Homes, institutions and foster homes in NSW from the 1920s to the 1990s.
- National Archives of Australia
First Australians
The National Archives holds a significant number of records about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and history.
Bringing them Home Index
The Bringing Them Home name index helps First Australians use the NAA files to find information about themselves, their country and their history.
Libraries
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
Family History
AIATSIS assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are looking for information about their families. They can provide family history research assistance, access to information, skills and knowledge but do not assist with or provide proof of Aboriginality.
Dawn Names Index
This is a list of the names of people who are mentioned in the Dawn and New Dawn magazines published by the NSW Aborigines Welfare Board between 1952-1975.
Dawn
The Dawn contain articles about the conditions and activities on reserves, stations, homes and schools throughout New South Wales, as well as highlights from the work of the Aboriginal Welfare Board. You can view photos from the magazines or read from the complete set of Dawn magazines.
New Dawn
The New Dawn contain articles about the conditions and activities on reserves, stations, homes and schools throughout New South Wales, as well as highlights from the work of the Aboriginal Welfare Board. You can view photos from the magazines or read from the complete set of New Dawn magazines.
Koori Mail
The Koori Mail is an Australian newspaper written and owned by Indigenous Australians since 1991.
- National Library of Australia
Australian Indigenous family history
You will find research advice, key resources, featured collection items, selected websites and research case studies.
Non-Government organisations
- Link-Up NSW
Link-Up NSW
Link-Up NSW was established around 1980 to assist Aboriginal people who were separated from their family as a result of government intervention.
It provides caseworkers to assist individuals to find their family, to counsel and support them with their reunions, as well as to provide post reunion support.
- NTSCORP
Genealogies and Native Title in NSW and the ACT
NTSCORP have recorded the family histories of many Aboriginal communities in New South Wales. Their researchers are happy to share the information that they have gathered.
- Royal Australian Historical Society
Finding Your Ancestors: Researching Aboriginal Family History in NSW
Finding Your Ancestors is a project to encourage and help Aboriginal people to research their family history.
- Society of Australian Genealogists
Society of Australian Genealogists
Support for family historians with education, training, courses, a library, archives and bookshop.
- NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies Inc
NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies Inc
A contact list of member family history societies and groups in NSW and ACT.