Holroyd City Council

Holroyd Council can do!

Family History

We provide books, microform, journals and CD-ROMs to assist with family history research. The material includes the following subject areas:

    • Atlases
    • Births, Deaths and Marriages
    • Census and Musters
    • Convicts
    • Family History Research Guides
    • Land Records
    • Military and Police Records
    • Names and Heraldry
    • Placenames
    • Research Directories
    • Shipping/Immigration Records
    • Other Genealogical Resources

Most titles are not available for loan but may be either photocopied or printed. The library’s on-line catalogue can be checked for the availability and location of the item required or you can download a comprehensive resource list of the library's holdings.

The room dedicated to family history research at Merrylands Library is the Tony Maston Room. There is a computer, microfilm and microfiche resources, and two microform readers. The room is named in honour of the late Tony Maston, a Merrylands resident who recorded many of Holroyd's peoples, places and events.

Family History Volunteers

For those who are novice genealogists and would like more help in conducting research, experienced volunteers from the Holroyd Family History Group are available to assist at Merrylands Central Library on the second Monday of each month between 10am and 12 noon. For more information about the Holroyd Family History Group research assistance please phone 9631 2092.

There is no need to make an appointment to use print resources, however if wishing to use the microform reader printer a booking is essential. To book, ring the Reference Desk on 9840 9936. Come to the library in person and speak to one of our knowledgeable family history volunteers for some hints and tips. For further information, contact the Local Studies Librarian on 9840 9789

Births, Deaths and Marriages

There are a variety of sources for locating dates for births, deaths and marriages including indexes, church records and cemetery inscriptions.

Holroyd City Council Library Service has the following births, deaths and marriages indexes available on CD-ROM.

    • NSW Pioneer Index – 1788-1888
    • NSW Federation Index – 1889-1918
    • NSW between the Wars – 1919-1945 (marriages and deaths only)
    • Queensland Pioneers Index 1829-1889
    • South Australia – Births Index 1842-1906
    • South Australia – Deaths Index 1842-1915
    • Tasmania Pioneer Index – 1803-1899
    • Victoria - Pioneer Index – 1837-1888
    • Victoria - Edwardian Index – 1902-1913
    • Victoria - Federation Index 1889-1901
    • Victoria – Great War Index – 1914-1920
    • Victoria – Deaths Index – 1921-1985
    • Western Australia Pioneer Index – 1841-1905

Census and Musters

During the nineteenth century, musters were taken to record the inhabitants of the colony. Some of these have been published and are available in book form. The 1828 Census was the first census to take place in NSW and the only one that remains intact. It has been published as a reference tool. Parts of the 1841 and 1891 Census are available at the Archives Office.

Convicts

Australia was first settled as a penal colony in 1788, after the British had to make alternative arrangements for the transportation of convicts. Transportation ceased in NSW in 1842. As a result of the Bicentenary in 1988, a great deal of convict material was released on microfilm and fiche through the Archives Office of NSW, now known as State Records NSW.

The library holds a number of general books about convicts, including a large selection of books by James McClelland.

Family History Research Guides

When conducting family history research, it is important to use material that specialises in genealogy and that shows the best way to go about family research.

Holroyd City Council Library Services has numerous books and videos on the subject, which will provide you with different methods of research and related topics.

Land Records

The first land grant in NSW was made in 1789 and the land was granted to assist with settlement of the penal colony. The majority of Holroyd is situated in the Parish of St John, County of Cumberland. Land records are an important resource for both the family and local historian.

For further information about land, contact the following repositories:

    • State Records NSW, Globe Street, Sydney and O’Connell Street, Kingswood
    • Lands Title Office, Queens Square, Sydney
    • Crown Lands Department, 23 Bridge Street, Sydney

Names and Heraldry

Names and heraldry are an interesting sideline to family history. Surnames can have various origins including patronymic, occupational, locational and nicknames. A similar surname does not necessarily mean that there is a connection with that particular family.

Heraldry

Heraldry relates to coats of arms and can also provide more information on the gentry and noble families.

Tartans and Clans

Scotland has its own unique type of family history with its clans and tartans.

Research Directories

This publication is a very useful genealogical tool. It is published annually and each volume is different. It is an alphabetical listing of surnames and places with the address of the person who is undertaking the research.

JOHNSON, Keith and SAINTY, Malcolm
Genealogical Research Directory 1987 to present
RL 929.3 JOH at Merrylands Central Library.

Shipping/Immigration Records

Another important part of family research is shipping records. Ancestors could have arrived in Australia as convicts, free settlers or assisted immigrants. The State Records NSW has a very good collection of shipping arrival records.