Tindale Genealogies

Norman Tindale was an anthropologist based at the South Australian Museum. He recorded vast amounts of genealogical information about Indigenous communities from all over Australia, the majority being collected field trips during the  1920s and 1930s.

Over 50,000 Indigenous people are included in the genealogies, as well as thousands of named photographic portraits.

The genealogies are charted in hand-written field notes, usually with one extended family included on each chart. Some charts trace families back as far as 1860 and sometimes include the language groups and/or traditional names of people.           

A sample family tree chart appears below, (for privacy and copyright purposes names have been changed): 

Tindale

The entire Tindale archive, which includes the genealogies, is held at the South Australian Museum. Various state and community organisations also have relevant copies of the genealogies. See below for a listing.

Access conditions do apply – usually direct descendants and persons with permission from families or communities can view and copy the genealogies.http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/archives/collections

Where you can obtain Tindale charts

New South Wales

Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW
Contact: Ronald Briggs
Ph: (02) 9273 1577
Web: www.sl.nsw.gov.au/indigenous/
Genealogies held: All of NSW

Muda Aboriginal Corporation
Address: 1 Wangkumurra Drive, Bourke NSW 2840
Contact: Greg McKellar
Ph: 02 6872 1869
Fax: 0268 72 1228
Email:muda@muda.com.au 
Genealogies held: Brewarrina only

Northern Regional Library and Information Service (Moree Library)
PO Box 360, Moree NSW 2400
Ph: 02 6757 3374
Web: www.indigenousunit.com.au/
Email:tracy.towney@indigenousunit.com.au
Email:kelly.briggs@indigenousunit.com.au
Contact: Tracey Towney
Genealogies held: All of NSW

Queensland

John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Ph: 07 3840 9482
Online index available at:
www.slq.qld.gov.au/info/ind/footprints/family_history_resources/tindale
Genealogies held: All of Queensland

Townsville City Council
Address: 4 petunia St Aitkenvale Townsville 4810
Contact: Jeneese henaway
Ph: 07 4727 8317
Genealogies held: All of Queensland

Tasmania

University of Tasmania, Riawunna Aboriginal Education Centre
Ph: 03 6226 2772
Fax: 03 6226 2575
Genealogies held: Cape Barren Island only

Victoria and Northern Territory

South Australian Museum
Ph: 08 8207 7500
Fax: 08 8207 7430
Website:http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/archives/collections

Genealogies held: Australia wide

Western Australia

Department of Indigenous Affairs
Address: PO Box 7770, Cloister's Square, Perth WA 6850
Contact: AHRU Officer
Ph: 08 9235 8000
Website:http://www.dia.wa.gov.au/en/Family-History/
Email: info2@dia.wa.gov.au

Genealogies held: Western Australian Index only