• Norman Tindale was an anthropologist based at the South Australian Museum.

• The entire Tindale archive, which includes the genealogies, is available from the South Australian Museum.

• He recorded vast amounts of genealogical information about Indigenous communities from all over Australia, the majority being collected during the 1920s and 1930s

• Various state and community organisations also have relevant copies of the genealogies. See below for a listing.

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

• Access conditions do apply – usually direct descendants and persons with permission from families or communities can view and copy the genealogies.

• The genealogies are charted in hand-written field notes, usually with one extended family included on each chart. 

• For a detailed biography on Tindale and his work see: www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/orig/tindale/

• 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): 

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: 103 Walker Street Townsville

Postal Address: PO Box 1268 Townsville QLD 4810

Contact: Debbie Hart or Annette Pike

Ph: 07 4727 9683

Genealogies held: All of Queensland

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South Australia

South Australian Museum

Ph: 08 8207 7500

Fax: 08 8207 7430

Norman B. Tindale Archives:

www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindale/HDMS/Tindale.htm

Genealogies held: Australia wide

Tasmania

University of Tasmania, Riawunna Aboriginal Education Centre

Ph: 03 6226 2772

Fax: 03 6226 2575

Genealogies held: Cape Barren Island only

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Victoria and Northern Territory

South Australian Museum

Ph: 08 8207 7500

Fax: 08 8207 7430

Website: www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindale/HDMS/Tindale.htm

Genealogies held: Australia wide

Western Australia

Department of Indigenous Affairs

Address: PO Box 7770, Cloister's Square, Perth WA 6850

Contact: Julie Hayden

Ph: 08 9235 8000

Easy call line: 1300 651 077

Website: www.dia.wa.gov.au/Heritage/Familyhistory

Email: info2@dia.wa.gov.au

Genealogies held: Western Australian Index only