Genealogy versus family history
There is a distinct difference between genealogy and family history. If genealogy is the skeleton, family history is the flesh, muscle and defining features.
Genealogy is the investigation and recording of family lineage, usually realised in the form of a “family tree”, or comprehensive listing of names and dates.
Family history is the unique information about the individuals in the family tree: where they lived, went to school and worked, their achievements, quirks and so on. It may be sourced from family stories and anecdotes, letters, newspapers and memorabilia.
Where to begin tracing your family history
- Start with yourself: Note down everything you know about your immediate and extended family: names, dates, places, relationships, professions.
- Contact your relatives: Ask them where and when they were born, where they lived, went to school, names of their parents and other relatives. Ask them if they have birth, marriage and death certificates as these provide valuable details. Take notes as you go and don’t be nosy – some people will have things they don’t want to talk about.
- Check your facts: Memories can be unreliable – check dates, names, places and other details on official records.
- Work backwards from yourself: Check the birth, death and marriage dates of your parents. Get certificates if necessary; these will give details of their parents. Follow the same steps for each generation until you can go back no further.
- Build a tree: Plot your findings using a family tree. AncestryOpens in new tab and FamilySearchOpens in new tab both offer free online charts.
Keys to discover your family history
- Ancestry Library EditionOpens in new tab: Search births, deaths and marriages, passenger lists, census records and more from all over the world. Access onsite in our libraries.
- findmypast AustraliaOpens in new tab: Browse historical records with a focus on Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. Access onsite in our libraries.
- findmypast UKOpens in new tab: Browse historical records with a focus on England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the US and other parts of the world. Access onsite in our libraries.
- Victorian Births, Deaths and MarriagesOpens in new tab: Search historical indexes of births, baptisms, marriages, burials and deaths dating back to as early as 1836.
- Sands & McDougall directoriesOpens in new tab: Lists surnames, addresses and professions. Useful when researching people and houses. The directories were published from 1857 until 1974. Free digital access at North Melbourne Library, East Melbourne Library and Library at The Dock.
- Trove digitised newspapersOpens in new tab: Search through hundreds of Australian titles from 1803 to 2007.
Other family history websites
- State Library of VictoriaOpens in new tab: Family history tools and resources
- National Library of AustraliaOpens in new tab: Family history
- Australian War MemorialOpens in new tab
- National Archives of AustraliaOpens in new tab
- Genealogical Society of VictoriaOpens in new tab: Classes, talks, research, volunteering and more
- Family History ConnectionsOpens in new tab: Research, talks, classes, interest groups and the quarterly magazine, The Genealogist
- Koorie Heritage TrustOpens in new tab: Koorie Family History Service
- Co.As.It. Italian Historical SocietyOpens in new tab: Family history
- CoraWeb family history directoryOpens in new tab
- RootsWebOpens in new tab: An Ancestry.com community
- Church of Latter Day Saints Family SearchOpens in new tab
- National Archives UKOpens in new tab
- National Archives of Ireland GenealogyOpens in new tab
- National Archives of IrelandOpens in new tab: Ireland–Australia transportation records (1791–1853)
- ItalianGenealogy.comOpens in new tab
- Cyndi's ListOpens in new tab: An index of genealogy sites
- Odessa German-Russian Genealogical LibraryOpens in new tab
- Find a graveOpens in new tab
- Ryerson Index to death notices and obituaries in Australian newspapersOpens in new tab
Is your house in the City of Melbourne? Learn about its history with these digital and physical resources.
iHeritage database
City of Melbourne's free online database of heritage properties transcribed from the original 1980s Conservation Studies.
Rate books 1861–1975
Rate books record the levying and payment of the general rate. They include details such as the name of the rate payer, address, description of the property and value of the property.
Access them for free online:
- Public Record Office Victoria: Rate recordsOpens in new tab
- Public Record Office Victoria: Researching historic homes through public recordsOpens in new tab
- Searching City of Melbourne Rate Books instructions (PDF 600 KB)
Burchett Index Cards
A comprehensive index of East Melbourne properties in the 1970s. Search online via East Melbourne Historical SocietyOpens in new tab.
Sands & McDougall directories
Free digital access to a full set at North Melbourne Library, East Melbourne Library and Library at The Dock.
Vertical files
Browse auction notices, news articles, letters and more. Contact us at CommunityHeritage@melbourne.vic.gov.au for more information.
Book a history detective
Research
City of Melbourne Libraries can connect you with a wide range of research resources. View our interactive maps, access thousands of historical images and a huge range of digital resources.
Our East Melbourne Library, North Melbourne Library and Library at The Dock branches provide access to digital resources:
- a full set of Sands & McDougall directories
- births, deaths, marriages indexes
- City of Melbourne rate books
- digitized rare books
- high resolution scanning to preserve old family photographs, memorabilia, letters, slides and negatives.
Talk to our staff to book a free session.
- Digital archiveOpens in new tab: Search over 10,000 (and growing) digitised images from the City of Melbourne Libraries' local history collections.
- TroveOpens in new tab: Search thousands of images from Australian institutions.
- State Library VictoriaOpens in new tab: Find a range of artworks, objects, postcards and posters.
- Australian War MemorialOpens in new tab: Search photos, art, film and more.
- City of Melbourne maps: Explore the City of Melbourne’s history using interactive maps.
- Fire insurance plansOpens in new tab: These plans are extremely detailed and show the occupants, construction materials and fire protection facilities of Melbourne's buildings. They were prepared for insurance companies to gauge the fire risk posed by different buildings and to investigate insurance claims.
- Maps of MelbourneOpens in new tab: Historical maps digitised and provided by University of Melbourne Library Some maps are also available in high resolution.
- Maps of Melbourne city and suburbsOpens in new tab: These maps of Melbourne, provided by State Library of Victoria, can be used to research a range of historical, geographical and environmental topics. They provide detailed information about transport routes, land-use zoning, tourist sites, geology and electoral boundaries.
- Melbourne street directoriesOpens in new tab: Full-colour scans of Melway street directories from 1966–1987 (most years).
- The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) plansOpens in new tab: These maps were produced from the 1890s to the 1950s and were crucial to the design and development of Melbourne's sewerage and drainage system.
If you’re interested in the history of the suburbs, citizens or buildings of the City of Melbourne, there are historical societies you can contact or join:
Local history events
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