Skip to main content
St Kilda Mangrove Boardwalk Temporarily Closed (UPDATED)
The Mangrove Trail has reopened with conditions, following repairs. The first 300m of the trail is open and accessible to the public. The last 200m section of the trail to the lookout is currently closed.

Community

Community Libraries Local Family History Family Resources

Family History Resources

Physical

Visit the Salisbury West Library where you will find:

  • birth, death and marriage indexes for Australia (including Norfolk Island) and New Zealand
  • marriage and death indexes for England and Wales
  • divorce records for South Australia and Victoria
  • various cemetery records for most Australian states and territories
  • miscellaneous Census records for Australia and the UK (except Ireland)
  • shipping records for New South Wales, Norfolk Island, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria
  • genealogy magazines

Local and/or family history searches of the collection are available at a rate of $35.00 per hour (*plus costs). For more information, contact the Local History Officer on 8406 8207

Online

These resources can be used to support genealogical and history research:

  • Ancestry Library Edition (powered by Ancestry.com)- available on computers within all libraries, or via the library's free wireless network.

There are millions of websites devoted to genealogy. Some provide free information, others require a paid subscription. Below is a range of sites we think people might find useful.

General sites

  • Trove access books, digitised newspapers, photos and more

Births, Deaths and Marriages

Military

Archives and Societies

Maps

Newspapers

Where to start

Has it been done before? Check to see if your family history has been published.

Write down what you know about yourself

  • birth date
  • birth place
  • occupation
  • education
  • where your family lived
  • marriage - date, place, spouse's name
  • children's names, date and place of birth
  • parents' names - date and place of birth, occupation, hobbies, etc.
  • grandparents' names - date and place of birth, occupation, hobbies, etc.

Collect any supporting documentation.

Talk with / interview family and friends

  • Start with the oldest person in your family.
  • Explain what you are doing and why.
  • Record the talk for future reference.
  • Get as much information on family members as you can.
  • Ask about certificates and photographs and seek permission to make copies.
  • Construct a questionnaire to contact interstate and overseas family members.

Tips on keeping and collecting information

  • Genealogy recording sheets can be downloaded from the Internet.
  • Try creating your create own recording sheet from samples found in our family history books located in Dewey number 929 or on the internet.
  • Check all possible spellings of the name.