Genealogy Resources available at the Newcastle Region Public Library, NSW, Australia

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Newcastle Region Public Library
Local Studies Section
War Memorial Cultural Centre
Laman Street
NEWCASTLE NSW 2300
Phone (02) 49745300
Email: library@ncc.nsw.gov.au

Open: Mon, Wed to Frid 9.30am-5pm
Friday - 9.30am to 5.00pm
Tuesday - 9.30am to 8.00pm
Saturday - 9.30am to 2.00pm

The library has produced a series of pamphlets listing all the resources available for family history researchers in the Hunter Valley, what they are and where they are. Many of these resources would be available at other libraries and Family History organisations throughout Australia, check locally to see if they are available in your area.

How and Where do I Start? see below
NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages/Census, Directories & Electoral Rolls
Other States, Births Deaths & Marriages
International Births, Deaths & Marriages
Cemeteries in the Hunter Valley and those of which there is no evidence today
Non Local Cemeteries
Hunter Region Newspapers & General Newspaper Indexes
Convict Records
Guide to Convict Records at the NSW Archives Office
Colonial Court Records, Newcastle Penal Settlement, W.A. & Tasmania
War Records - Australia, South Africa and England
Where did they go and What did they do? NSW and other States

How and Where do I Start?

Beginners to Family History often feel overwhelmed by the sources available and the most common question is how they should 'do' their family history.

Tracing your family tree is a simple process of finding information about your ancestors working back from yourself or, if you wish to include your partner's family, your children.

There are different ways of tracing your family. But what you do is up to you.

1. Some people trace only their direct lines back, e.g. they find the birth, death and marriage dates and places for their two parents, four grandparents, eight great-grandparents, sixteen great-great-grandparents and sixty four great-great-great-grandparents. They stop when they find the arrival of their ancestors into Australia.

2. Some people trace only their father's line and continue this in their ancestor's country of origin as far back as the records will allow.

3. Some people chose a couple and work in the opposite direction. They trace all the children and grandchildren and great grandchildren of that couple, and so on down to the present day.

The key is to work backwards in time, from the known to the unknown.

Step 1: What do you already know about your family?
Fill what you already know into a family chart.
Most people have some knowledge of their family back two or three generations. If you don't, then other members of your family may.

Step 2: Ask your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles for information.
Use the information they provide to fill in any gaps on the chart.

Step 3: The remaining gaps in your chart are what you now want to find.
The table below lists the place where some of the information you want may be found if searching New South Wales records. Remember that the States of Australia all have different methods of keeping birth, death and marriage records and all collect different information in those records. You may not always be able to get the information you want.

Step 4: Join a Family History Society
The members of Family History Societies are all active researchers who have been there, done that, and know how a beginner feels. They can offer advice and friendship as well as knowledge.

Step 5: What do to when you get stuck?
Instead of working backwards, move sideways.
Your ancestor's birth certificate may not have the information you want, so get a copy of his brother's or sister's.

Step 6: I've run out of Australians?
Use the shipping lists to find your ancestor's arrival in this country and then look at some of the resources held within the library for the overseas records. If not successful pay a visit to the Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints or the Newcastle Family History Society.

DO NOT start paying for searches by professionals in other countries until you see what the Church holds.

INFORMATION SOUGHT	WHERE TO FIND IT ON NSW RECORDS
Birth Date	Baptism Certificate Birth Certificate Headstone
Place of Birth	Birth Certificate Marriage Certificate Death Certificate
Mother's Name	Birth Certificate Marriage Certificate Death Certificate
Father's Name	Birth Certificate Marriage Certificate Death Certificate
Place of Parent's Marriage	Birth Certificates of their children Marriage Certificate of the parent's
Date of parent's marriage	Birth Certificate of their children Marriage Certificate of the parent's
Grandparent's Names	Marriage Certificate of parents
Place where parent's born	Birth Certificate Marriage Certificate of parents
Spouse's Name	Marriage Certificate Their children's birth certificates
Date and Place of Marriage	Marriage Certificate Their children's birth certificates
Date and Place of Death	Death Certificate Funeral Notice or Obituary in Newspaper Inquest Will Headstone
Occupation	Electoral Roll Child's Birth Certificate Marriage Certificate
Possessions	Land Records Bankruptcy Proceedings Will & Estate Files

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