NSW Aboriginal Protection Board and Aboriginal Welfare Board records

The Family History Unit holds an index to the minutes of the meetings held by the NSW Aboriginal Protection Board and Aboriginal Welfare Board dated 1890 to 1969.  The Family History Unit also holds a copy of the index to the NSW Aboriginal Welfare Board Correspondence files, 1945 – 1969.  These indexes can only be searched by Unit staff for clients in accordance with the access conditions set by the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Please contact the Family History Unit for more information.

Pictures Access database

The Pictures Access database contains approximately 60,000 images – approximately 10% of the photographic collection held in the AIATSIS Audiovisual Archives.  The Pictures Access database contains contemporary and historical images from a range of subjects and places.   Family History staff can search the Picture Access database for photographs of members of your family. In completing your family history research request, we will send you a printed copy of any relevant photographs. More information and higher quality copies of photographs can be obtained by contacting the AIATSIS Audiovisual Archives.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Biographical Index

AIATSIS has the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Biographical Index (ABI) referring to people mentioned in published books, magazines and journals that are held in the Library.  The ABI is at http://mura.aiatsis.gov.au as part of Mura®, the AIATSIS catalogue. Infokoori at www.sl.nsw.gov.au/infokoori/ also indexes many similar and other magazines / newspapers.

Births, Deaths and Marriages indexes

In addition to the New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia BDM indexes which are available for searching on the Internet, the Family History Unit also holds the BDM indexes for Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory.

Tindale Genealogies

Tindale was an anthropologist working for the South Australian Museum. He recorded Indigenous genealogies around Australia. Tindale genealogies have been given to various agencies and organisations in each state. See Fact sheet 10 for addresses in each state or ring us on 1800 730 129 for advice.

INFOKOORI

This is the Indigenous name database of the State Library of NSW and is available online at www.sl.nsw.gov.au/infokoori/. 

The AIATSIS Library many of the items indexed in INFOKOORI including the Our Aim and Australian Evangel magazines.

Adoptions and state wards

People who were adopted or were wards of the state may be able to access their personal records. See the webpage ‘Adoptions and State Wards’ on the AIATSIS Family History Unit webpage for links to information on accessing adoption records for each Australian state and territory. This will include contact information of the relevant government agency or private organisation. Alternatively, ring us on 1800 730 129 for us to refer you to theappropriate organization.

Electoral Rolls

Although most Indigenous people did not vote until the 1960’s, some Indigenous people are listed on earlier electoral rolls which are can be a good source for family history information. Electoral rolls, although only containing information on name, address and occupation (omitted after 1983), can be more useful than telephone directories. After all, many people are not on the phone or are not listed in the telephone directory. For more information see the Australian Electoral Commission web page, Indigenous people and the vote 

Military Records

Indigenous people have served in every military conflict that Australia has been involved in since the Boer War (1899-1902). The Australian War Memorial has produced a step-by-step guide to the main sources for researching the service and wartime experiences of family members. It is a useful starting point for new family historians. Or phone the Australian War memorial on 1300 886 881

Land Records

Station owners or managers often kept records which mention the Indigenous people who worked for them or were born on their properties. These records include diaries, wage books, lists of employees and registers of births. Many of these records are held at the Noel Butlin Archives. Indigenous people occasionally owned land of their own and, as shown in this exapmle, land ownership records can also be a great family history resource.

Missions and reserves

Mission and reserve records often contain family history information such as baptism, birth, death and marriage details as well as lists and photographs of residents.   Missions were run by churches and most mission records are preserved in church and mission society archives although some have been given to libraries and archives.  Reserves, on the other hand, were established by the government and many records from reserves are now located in state archives (See Fact sheets 14-23 for contact details).

Cemetery transcriptions

These records represent opportunities for working back to an earlier generation through clues about ages and places of origin, especially when the event is too recent for Birth Death and Marriage (BDM) indexes. The Family History Unit has a large collection of published cemetery and burial transcriptions from across Australia.

Colonial Secretary Blanket Return lists from 1833 to 1835

These records are on microfilm and in print form and show the issue of blankets to Aboriginal peoples in the various districts of NSW during the colonial period. See also the State Library of NSW ‘Blanket lists’ webpage.

Court and Police Records

Court and police records can be valuable sources of family history information. They may be the only way to verify the names and whereabouts of individual Indigenous people. In the past, police officers were, in some cases, Protectors of Aborigines and kept records about the Indigenous people in their local area