Family History

Need help researching your family history?

This page will connect you to resources offered by our library and other organisations.

See the sections below to get started.

Our Local History Librarians run family history programs for our members, so make sure to book into those via our events calendar.

For more specialised queries about local families, please fill out the Local History Enquiry Form.

General Genealogy Resources

Ancestry – in library use only
Find My Past – in library use only
Narre Warren & District Family History Group – a local historical society based in Cranbourne library.
Trove – digitised Australian newspapers from 1803 to 1950’s. Useful for birth, death and marriage announcements.
National Archives of Australia – a range of records, including immigration and military. Family history service also available.
National Library of Australia – large range of guides to researching your family history
State Library Victoria – large range of guides to researching your family history.
Family History Collections – formerly Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies
Genealogical Society of Victoria
Genealogical Society of Victoria: Family Search – the largest collection of free family history, family trees and genealogy records in the world. Useful for non-European ancestors.
WorldGenWeb Project – a collection of overseas databases and organisations for genealogical research.
Public Records Office of Victoria – a large range of family history, wills and probates, property records, immigration records, and passenger lists.
Ryerson Index – free index of death notices from NSW, Victorian and other interstate newspapers, right up to date

First Nations Resources

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies – family history services for First Nation people.
Link-Up – family history support service for members of the stolen generation.
Koorie Heritage Trust – First Nations owned and managed Victorian cultural organisation.
Koorie Records Unit – a culturally sensitive service for First Nation researchers.

Soldiers and Nurses at War

Australian War Memorial – records of soldiers from all conflicts.
Discovering Anzacs – Australian and New Zealand World War One service personnel by locality of birth/enlistment.
Beaconsfield Soldiers – database of local Beaconsfield soldiers in conflicts.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission – grave sites of Commonwealth soldiers.

Graves and Deaths

Australian Cemeteries – Australian grave locations and contact details.
BillionGraves – largest searchable cemetery database worldwide.
Ryerson Index – index of deaths in Australia, taken from newspaper death notices.