Researching your Victorian ancestors

Australian immigration and shipping records were state based until 1923 when the Commonwealth Government assumed responsibility for passenger arrivals and departures. Pre 1923 records are housed in the relevant state archives and post 1923 are held by the National Archives of Australia.

For detailed information on researching people arriving in and departing from Victoria please go to our Victorian immigration and emigration research guide.              

Detailed information on how to locate immigration records can be found in the  state and territory genieguides, available in Family History and Newspaper Room.

For information on researching passenger lists, shipboard diaries and finding your elusive ancestors, please see our blog - When the boat comes in: voyages to Victoria.

For technical information, pictures, logs and histories of passenger and cargo ships please consult the Library's Ships and shipping guide.

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