Family history and genealogy

Genealogy is the study of family origins based on records of important events in the lives of individuals and their ancestors and families.

Explore a wide range of family history and genealogy resources to help trace your ancestry and uncover your heritage, including:

• birth, death and marriage registries
• cemetery records
• historical newspapers
• immigration archives.

With free in-library access to services like Ancestry Library Edition, helpful guides, research tips, and links to trusted databases, our libraries make it easier to explore your family history. Learn about getting started in genealogy.

Search genealogy databases

Help using genealogy databases

• Ancestry Library Edition training: Learn how to use Ancestry Library Edition, a database for family history and genealogy.
• Find My Past training: Learn how to use Find My Past, a genealogy resource with millions of records covering Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.
• FamilySearch training: Learn how to use FamilySearch, the largest genealogy organisation in the world containing millions of historical records.

Family history research resources

Births, deaths and marriages registries

Search historical state and territory birth, death and marriage records:

• Queensland
• New South Wales
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia.

State records and archives

Access digitised records and database indexes online:

• Queensland State Archives
• New South Wales State Records Office
• Victorian Public Records Office
• National Archives of Australia
• Convict transportation register.

Military history resources

• Discovering Anzacs: Explore a diverse selection of government records about Australians and New Zealanders in World War 1 and the Boer War and experience the personal stories of service men and women through archival records.
• Australian War Memorial: The Australian War Memorial is Australia’s national memorial to the members of its armed forces. Search records relating to the war and view digitised enlistment papers for service men and women.

Cemetery record databases

Access records of people interred in South East Queensland's council-maintained cemeteries:

• City of Moreton Bay cemetery records search
• Brisbane City Council grave location search
• Gold Coast City Council deceased search
• Sunshine Coast Council cemeteries historical burial register
• City of Ipswich cemetery records search
• Find a Grave.

Digitised newspaper collections

• National Library of Australia Trove - Digitised newspapers: Collection of digitised historical newspapers with range of titles from every state.
• The Times Digital Archive: Spanning 1785 to 2014, the archive of the 'world's newspaper of record' published in London, covers all major international historical events. An extraordinary tool for family historians and researchers. See this full-text facsimile newspaper online. State Library of Queensland membership required. Become a State Library member.
• Ryerson Index: A free index to funeral, death and legal notices appearing in Australian newspapers.

Genealogy databases for the UK and Ireland

• Free BMD: Searchable database of historical birth, marriage and death records for England and Wales, includes:
  • FreeCEN is a free-to-view searchable database of the 19th century UK census returns
  • FreeREG is a free searchable database of UK Parish Register information. 
• GENUKI: Online library of genealogy and family history resources for the UK and Ireland.
• IGI Batch Numbers: This site lists the Batch Numbers for known Parishes of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as America and Canada.

General resources

• rootsweb: A free online family history resource that features a RootsWeb Family History Wiki, access to obituaries and links to useful resources. 

Connect with fellow researchers

Connect with like-minded researchers and share tips by joining a local family history group.

For further support, the Queensland Family History Society is a not for profit state organisation that helps people trace their family histories across Queensland. Learn more about the Queensland Family History Society.

Explore family history related workshops and events

For presentations and workshops, that are suitable for both beginner and advanced researchers, check out our range of local and family history events.