Early Australian census records

Part of the Ancestry Library Edition database. Access available at the State Library of Victoria and many local libraries.

This database lists male and female convicts and settlers of New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia from 1787-1834. Information available on these lists includes: name of convict or settler, age, date of arrival, name of ship arrived in, trial/conviction date and place, sentence, and occupation.

Includes many lists of names of officials, military, free settlers, convicts, owners of livestock, hospital patients, and those who signed petitions, organised alphabetically by surname (not indexed, so you will have to check all lists within a relevant time period). Also includes some very early births, death and marriages (1803-1804).

Part of the Ancestry Library Edition database, available at the State Library of Victoria and some local libraries.

The 'New South Wales, census and population books, 1811-1825' collection includes Hobart Town population musters for 1818, 1819, 1820.

Part of the Ancestry Library Edition database. Access available at the State Library of Victoria and many local libraries.

Includes records relating to Van Dieman's Land/Tasmania:
- 1811 (settlers who had been convicts, including those at Norfolk Island)
- 1817-1821 (male convicts from the ships Sir William Bensley, Chapman, Almorah, Minerva, and Lady Castlereagh)
- 1823
- 1825
- 1830
- 1832 (male convicts only)
- 1833 (male convicts only)
- 1835 (male convicts only)
- 1841
- 1842
- 1846
- 1849
- miscellaneous convicts 1808-1849

Information listed in these records can include: name of convict, name of ship of arrival, date of arrival, where tried, date of trial, and sentence.

This book is organised by surname, and includes information about people's "status" (whether they were free or a convict), ship of arrival, trial and sentence details (if applicable) and other remarks.
Also includes an excellent history of how and why this census was collected

Free online index to the censuses for 1837, 1838, 1842, 1843, 1848, 1851, and 1857. Includes information about individuals. In many cases the index links to digitised copies of the original records. Note that the index is not complete for all districts.

Includes names of 'free persons' (male and female) in a household, and indicates if they were aged under or over 14 years.

State Records New South Wales' guide to records held in their collection.

Book. Includes a variety of statistical returns relating to people, supplies, land and stock.

This book includes:
- an excellent history of how and why this census was collected
- population statistics for Hobart, New South Wales, Port Dalrymple and Norfolk Island
- statistics relating to convicts' countries of trial
- statistics relating to male and female given names

Includes transcribed copies of the statistical reports for the 1842, 1848, 1851, 1857, 1861, 1870, 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses. None of these reports include information about individuals.

The easiest way to view this data is to download the .xtml files (the fourth option in the list of files) and then open it with your preferred web browser.

These reports are also available on microfiche in the Family History & Newspapers Room, at LTMF 53.