Family history
The Local Studies Library specialises in Australian family history resources and has a range of material dealing specifically with the Hunter Valley.
As well as indexes for Birth Death & Marriages for Australian states and territories, we hold a range of convict records, shipping manifests and immigration records. Special local resources include The Lower Hunter Parish Register Index, Boyle's Lower Hunter Index, The Champion Index, a large collection of local cemetery listings and a collection of local family histories.
Family History Fact Sheets
Guides to some of the family history resources available at the Library.
- Starting out in family history
- Birth, death & marriage records
- Immigration and shipping records
- Criminal, police and court records
- Online Resources
- Overseas Resources
Newcastle Region Library’s Online Resources
There are a number of online resources which can help in your search for your ancestors:
- Ancestry Library Edition
Genealogy and historic research tool from around the world including digitised copies of census, parish and probate records. For use in library only.
Ancestry Library Edition - Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
A complete digital edition of The Times (London), that can be searched using keywords to retrieve full facsimile images of either a specific article or a complete page. The entire newspaper is captured, with all articles, advertisements and illustrations/photos divided into categories to facilitate searching. For use in library only.
Times Digital Archive - Internet History Resources
Provides users with images of historical documents which contain information which can help you trace people who lived and worked in NSW during the period 1850 – 1920. For use in library only.
Internet History Resources - Newcastle Morning Herald Index 1869-1943
This index provides subject access to articles of local significance from 1869 to 1943. The index has over 160,000 individual entries. Microfilm copies of the newspaper are available for use in the Local Studies Library.
Newcastle Morning Herald Index - Hunter Photo Bank
The Hunter Photobank is Newcastle Region Library's digital image database. It contains a large collection of historical and documentary images of the Hunter Region. A portion of the collection can be searched online and photographic reproductions of images may be ordered from the library.
Click here to access the database. - Cemeteries Online
Newcastle and the Lower Hunter have a number of historical cemeteries. Many of these burial grounds have been cleared over time and scant record remains. This index comprises headstone transcriptions of 4 significant cemeteries in the Newcastle area, Christ Church Cathedral Cemetery, Tarro Cemetery, Old Wallsend Cemetery and traces of North Waratah Cemetery
Cemetries Online
Links to outside resources
- NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages
To assist customers in undertaking family history research, the Registry provides free access to unrestricted birth, death and marriage family history indexes.
NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages - State Records NSW Indexes Online
There are numerous indexes listed here and they cover diverse topics such as: convicts; deceased estates; courts; gaol photographs; assisted and unassisted immigration; orphans; police service registers; insolvency; and naturalization.
State Records NSW Indexes Online - National Archives of Australia
RecordSearch describes over 6 million records from 9000 Australian Government agencies. It is particularly useful for searching for WWI Service Records which have been digitised and made available online.
National Archives of Australia - Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial provides online indexes which enable you to obtain personal service records and search biographical databases such as the Roll of Honour, Commemorative Roll, and various Nominal Rolls.
Australian War Memorial - Public Record Office of Victoria
A variety of indexes and digitised records are listed on this site inluding immigration records.
Public Record Office of Victoria - Ryerson Index to Contemporary Death Notices and Obituaries in Australian Newspapers
A consolidated index of contemporary death notices & obituaries from 54 NSW newspapers, including the Sydney Morning Herald 1986-2001. Microfilm copies of the Newcastle Herald are available in the Local Studies Reading Room & the Sydney Morning Herald at the Information Centre.
Ryerson Index to Contemporary Death Notices and Obituaries in Australian Newspapers
Services
Research Service - The library offers a genealogical research service for family historians and other researchers. We hold a range of resources including local indexes, Hunter Region newspapers, photographs, and other local materials relating to the Hunter Region. Enquiries can be sent by ASK a Librarian. Research fees may apply.
Photographic Service - Newcastle Region Library has an imaging service which offers a range of photographic formats suitable for personal or commercial use. Copies of images can be ordered from the Library.
Charges for reproduction services and copyright clearance will vary depending on the image and the proposed use of that image. Separate permission must be sought from the Library before you reproduce or publish images.
House Search
Want to research the history of an ancestor’s house?
Resources available include Valuation and Rate Books, which you can use to document a building’s history. The information available will vary from house to house.
Alternatively our Research Service can do the work for you. Contact our Research Service with your enquiry.
Links
National Library of Australia Online
An online tutorial on researching your family history on the internet
Cora Num's websites for genealogists
Family History Societies
Lake Macquarie Family History Group
Maitland Family History Circle
Newcastle Family History Society
Port Stephens Family History Society
State Genealogical Societies
Genealogy Society of Queensland
Genealogy Society of Victoria
Heraldry & Genealogy Soc. of Canberra
Queensland Family History Society
Society of Australian Genealogists, Sydney
Tasmania Family History Society
West Australian Genealogical Society
