Research Guides: Researching your Victorian ancestors: Births, deaths, marriages & divorce

Indexes to births, marriages and deaths

Birth, death and marriage certificates (BDM's) are vital documents to help genealogists establish relationships of family members backwards in time. They are used to build the basic structure of the family history tree.

Certificates are kept by the Registries of Births, Deaths and Marriages in each Australian state and territory. To obtain a copy of an historical certificate you first need to check the relevant index to find the registration number. The Family History Reading Room provides access to all published Australian civil registration indexes.

For a detailed list of state and territory indexes please refer to the following table. For details on how to get the full certificate please see our Obtaining certificates page.

Combined indexes Australian Birth Index 1788-1922 Australian Death Index 1787-1985 Australian Marriage Index 1787-1949	Indexes are available online through the Ancestry and Findmypast databases - available at the State Library and in many Victorian public libraries.
Victoria Births: 1836-1920 (restricted 100 years after the date of the birth) Deaths:1836-1990 (restricted 30 years after the date of death ) Marriages: 1836-1960 (restricted 60 years after the date of registration)	Search the Historical index to births, deaths and marriages through the Victorian Registry of births, deaths and marriages website. If you're looking for a record inside the restriction period, go to Get a birth certificate, Get a marriage certificate or Get a death certificate pages on the Registry website. Search the online index to Events at sea (Marine) births, deaths and marriages (1853 to 1920) through the Victorian Registry of births, deaths and marriages website. The Victoria's Early Church Records index is available on computers NFH1 - NFH5 in the library. It includes baptisms, marriages and burials (1836-1853) plus extra records from 1803-1906. CDROM indexes to Victorian BDM records can be accessed on computers NFH1 - NFH5. Watch our videos on how to search these indexes. The birth, death and marriages indexes are also available on microfiche - call number GMF 95.
New South Wales Births: 1788-1919 Deaths: 1788-1989 Marriages: 1788-1969	Historical indexes can be accessed through the NSW Registry of births, deaths and marriages website. CDROM indexes to NSW BDM records can be accessed through computers NFH1 - NFH5 in the Library. The indexes are also available on microfiche - call number GMF 122.
South Australia Births: 1842-1928 Deaths:1842-1972 Marriages:1842-1937	Historical indexes can be accessed from the SA Genealogy website. CDROM indexes to SA BDM records can be accessed through computers NFH1 - NFH5 in the Library. A printed version of the Indexes is held in the Family History collection, Call number G 994.23 SO. Indexes are also available on microfiche in the library - call number GMF 147. Index to Gazetted Deaths - South Australia (1845-1941) and NT (up to 1910) Index to South Australian Pre-Civil Registration Deaths (pre June 1842) can be accessed through computers NFH1 - NFH5 in the Library. Index to Unregistered Deaths in South Australia (1842-1970) can be accessed through computers NFH1 - NFH5 in the Library.
Tasmania Births: 1803-1933 Deaths: 1803-1933 Marriages:1803-1930	Digitised images and indexes of Births and Marriages (1803-1899), Deaths (1803-1930), Burials (1903-1933) and Baptisms (1900-1930) can be accessed through the Libraries Tasmania Name Index. A selection of indexes and original images (1803-1933) can be accessed though the FamilySearch website. The pre-1900 records of the Tasmanian Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages are held in the library - call number GM 5. These include pre-1900 birth, marriage and death certificates. Indexes are available on microfiche in the library. Call number GMF 152.
Queensland Births: 1829-1919 Deaths:1829-1989 Marriages:1829-1944	Historical indexes can be accessed from the Queensland Registry of births, deaths and marriages website. Indexes are available on microfiche in the library. Call number GMF 147.
Western Australia Births: 1841-1932 Deaths: 1841-1971 Marriages:1841-1937	Historical indexes can be accessed from the Western Australian Registry of births, deaths and marriages website. Indexes are also available on microfiche in the library. Call number GMF 134. A pre-civil registration index 1824-1856 is available on microfilm - call number GM 45.
Northern Territory Births: 1870-1918 Deaths: 1870-1913 Marriages:1870-1913	The NT Registry does not provide online access to any historical indexes. Details on how to request a search can be found on the NT Government website CDROM indexes to Northern Territory BDM records can be accessed through computers NFH1 - NFH5 in the Library. Indexes are also available on microfiche - call number GMF 11. The Alien births & death index - Northern Territory lists non-Northern Territory residents. Available on microfiche - call number GMF 11 Index to Gazetted Deaths - South Australia (1845-1941) and NT (up to 1910) Check NSW and SA indexes for records prior to separation in 1870.
Australian Capital Territory Deaths: 1930-1987 Marriages: 1930-1942	Download the historic death and historic marriage indexes from the ACT Office of Regulatory Services, Births Deaths and Marriages department.

Searching Victorian birth, death and marriage indexes

Watch the following videos and see how easy it is to search the Victorian birth, death and marriage cdrom (Digger) indexes.

The first video shows you how to do a simple search. The second video shows how you can analyse records and identify other areas to investigate.

For the best view choose fullscreen and the highest resolution

Obtaining certificates

You can order a birth, death or marriage certificate from the relevant registry. Wherever possibly provide all details given on the index entry, including the registration number. Fees apply for all certificates.

Unrestricted historic certificates are available in Victoria for births occurring 100 or more years ago, marriages occurring 60 or more years ago and deaths occurring 10 or more years ago. For other states please check with the relevant registry.

Location	How to obtain a certificate
Victoria	Certificates can be ordered online from the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. If you do not have the registration number or if you prefer a print copy of the certificate you can download a birth, death or marriage application form from the Registry site.
New South Wales	Certificates can be ordered from the NSW Registry of Births, Marriages and Deaths. Register of baptisms, burials and marriages [1787-1856]. This microfilm reproduction of records held by the Archives Authority of New South Wales, is available in the library - call number GM 8.
South Australia	Certificates can be ordered from the SA Goverment Consumer and Business Services website.
Tasmania	Certificates cannot be ordered online. Details on how to apply for a certificate can be found on the Tasmania, Births Deaths and Marriages website.
Queensland	Certificates cannot be ordered online. Details on how to apply for a certificate, by mail or email, can be found on the Queensland Births, Deaths and Marriages website.
Western Australia	Certificates cannot be ordered online. Details on how to apply for a certificate, by mail or email, can be found on the Western Australia Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages website.
Northern Territory	Certificates can be ordered from the NT Department of Justice.
ACT	Certificates can be ordered from ACT Office of Regulatory Services.

Divorce records

Divorce was possible in Victoria in the second half of the 19th century when the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act came into effect in 1861. Prior to this very few Victorian residents obtained divorces under English ecclesiastical law.

Records for 1861-1944

The Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) holds Divorce files and cause books created between 1861 and 1944.

1860-1940	Victoria, Australia, Divorce Records, 1860-1940 Digitised copies of these records can now be accessed through the Ancestry database. “The case file will contain a number of documents that might include: the petition stating the grievance affidavits (or supporting statements) by the petitioner a formal answer by the respondent and any co-respondents (in cases of adultery, both parties to the adultery were summoned) further affidavits in support of that answer orders by the court directing who is to pay for the costs of the case a praecipe, which is an order to the clerks of the Court to produce a writ containing the formal decree made by the justice. The praecipe will often have a summary of the decision	Available at the Library on the Ancestry Library Edition database
1860-1944	Victoria, Australia, Divorce Records, 1860-1944 Physical copies of these records are held at the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV). For information on how to search and request copies from PROV please go to their Divorce files and cause books webpage.
1861-1900	Divorce Index Victoria	GMF 105 Box 2
1861-1938	Divorce Index Victoria - Index to Divorce Cause Books Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) Volume 1, 1861 -1884 Volume 2, 1885 -1897 Volume 3, 1897 -1910 Volume 4, 1911- 1924 Volume 5, 1925 -1932 Volume 6, 1932 -1938 Download the relevant collection and search through it to find a specific case i.e. `Grealy v Grealy' or `Cooksey v Cooksey'.	Online

Records for 1936 -1975

Researchers seeking access to Victorian divorce records created between 1936 and 1975 can contact the Registry of the Victorian Supreme Court for advice about access:

Supreme Court Registry,
Level 2, 436 Lonsdale Street,
Melbourne, VIC., 3000
Tel: 03 9603 9300
Fax: 03 9603 9400

Office hours: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Supreme Court website (includes application forms and and payment advice)

Records created after 1975

In 1976 the administration of divorce was transferred from Victoria to the Commonwealth. Researchers seeking access to Victorian divorce records created after 1975 can contact the Family Court (Victoria) for advice about access:

Family Court of Australia (Victoria)
Phone: (03) 8600 3763 or 1300 352 000
Email: enquiries@familylawcourts.gov.au

For further information on how to access divorce records including a list of Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) records relating to divorce in Victoria please consult the PROV Divorce files and cause books 1861-1944.

What can I find on the BDM certificates?

Comparison of Australian BDM Certificates
The information listed on certificates varies for each state and territory. This document provides an indication of what you can expect to find on the certificates.

Name and place abbreviations

Place names - abbreviations

If you are having trouble identifying a place name consult the VICNAMES list of over 45,000 Victorian place names.
The Victorian BDM Place Name Abbreviations List will also help you to decipher many of the abbreviated place names that appear in the Victorian Registry of births, deaths and marriages indexes.
Given names - abbreviations
The BDM indexes often include abbreviated given names. Hy for Henry, Wm for William and so on. When searching fo a name try using the asterisk wildcard symbol to search for variations of a name e.g. Eliz* will retrieve Eliza, Elizabeth, Elizabetta.
For examples of abbreviated names go to FamilySearch Abbreviations Lists for Personal names site.
You can also find a comprehensive list of first name abbreviations on the Genealogy InTime Magazine website.

Where else can you look?

Use the Trove - Historic Australian Newspapers archive to locate birth, marriage and death notices in newspapers. For further information on how to search for notices go to the How to find items in newspapers research guide.

If the newspaper is not available on Trove, search the library catalogue to see if there is an index to that particular newspaper title e.g. Births, deaths and marriages printed in the Hamilton spectator 1859-1920.

Search the Ryerson Index to death notices and obituaries in Australian newspapers. Originally created by the Sydney Dead Persons Society, its strength lies in notices from NSW papers however more Victorian notices are now being indexed.

Search Victoria Funeral Notices,1981-1997. Available in the library on the FindMyPast Australasia database, this index is built from funeral notices from the Melbourne Herald Sun.

State Library Victoria

LIBRARY UPDATE

For details of current access arrangements please see our Covid Safe Library page