Family history and genealogy

Man in military uniform with hat smiling

Harry Peters, soldier in the Third Employment Company, c. 1942

Dear Mutzi: Writing a life through letters, memories and imagination

Read about how author Tess Scholfield-Peters explored her grandfather's early life as a teenager fleeing Nazi Germany in her new book 'Dear Mutzi'.

Blog

A black and white photograph of a family dressed in late 1800s style fashion. The are standing in a clearing in a forest and are standing in front of a tent.

William Henry Corkhill, Jim Stephens, Steven Marsden, Charlie Marsden, his wife Rebecca and their children Millie and Stephen outside their tent, Mt Dromedary, ca.1899, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140334789

Learning webinar: Family history for beginners

Delve into our collections with our Research Librarians and uncover your family history.

Event

Learning activity for adults

Video

Dear Mutzi

Tess Scholfield-Peters

Book

NLA Publishing book

Painting of The First Fleet in Sydney Cove, 1788

John Allcot, The First Fleet in Sydney Cove, January 27, 1788, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135776002

Convicts research guide

From January 1788, when the First Fleet of convicts arrived at Botany Bay, to the end of convict transportation 80 years later, over 160,000 convicts were transported to Australia.

Research guide

Family history desk common questions blog

Most common family history questions we get asked at the Library: Part 2

In our second blog, find out how to find information on births, deaths, addresses and property records.

Blog

National Library Special Collections Research and support Team

Most common family history questions we get asked at the Library: Part 1

In the first of two blogs, learn about birth certificates, First Nations family history, electoral rolls, and cemetery records.

Blog

A sepia-toned photograph showing a group of passengers relaxing on the deck of a ship. Men and women are seated on deck chairs, dressed in late 19th or early 20th-century clothing, with hats and striped dresses visible. The background shows ship rigging and sails.

Ship passengers relaxing on deck, 1870, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-146719701

Shipping and passenger records

Find immigration records, shipping and passenger lists for fare-paying passengers, assisted migrants and crew members to reveal key details about your family members arrival in Australia.

Research guide

A newspaper stand with headlines about an attempt to kill the King

Newspaper stand in a railway station headlining attempt to kill King, Victoria, 1936, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-152826154

Newspapers for family history

Learn some useful tips and suggestions on how to use newspapers for family history research.

Learning activity for adults

Video

Landscape watercolour showing trees, hilly, grass covered terrain, few small buildings and a mountain in the distance

H M Rolland, Canberra, view from Camp Hill looking towards St. John' s Church, Mt. Ainslie in the distance, 1924, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135217175

Canberra family history

Discover early family histories of the Canberra region while learning about how you too can explore your town and put your family history puzzle back together.

Learning activity for adults

Video

Man steering a large male cow that is pulling a wagon with his wife and children inside

Mallee farmer and family with his bullock wagon, Victoria, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-153091696

Finding and dating photographs

Find family photos and piece together dates and places from the many clues they contain.

Learning activity for adults

Video

Two men, one on a ladder, looking at books on large bookshelf at the State Library of Victoria

Mark Strizic, Searching for books at the State Library of Victoria, January 1967, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-140508667

The art of literary investigation

Learn how to uncover facts and colour from historical documents, manuscripts, newspapers and more.

Learning activity for adults

Video

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