How to research Local and Family History
Family and Local History
A great way to find out about people, places and more.
Trove is Australia’s free online research portal for digital copies of newspapers, Government Gazettes, maps, magazines, newsletters, photographs and more.
trove.nla.gov.au
Not on Trove? Try our microfilm collection.
Includes Bathurst Advocate, Bathurst Daily Argus, Bathurst Free Press, Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Bathurst Post, Bathurst Times, National Advocate, Western Independent, Western Times and Western Advocate.
Available in-house at Bathurst Library
The new home of the NSW State Archives collection plus more.
mhnsw.au
The State Library collects and preserves materials and evidence relating to New South Wales. Access information online and in-person.
sl.nsw.gov.au
Family History
Confirm the year of a birth, death or marriage. It’s important to make sure you have the correct date. NSW BDM is a good place to start your search.
Search birth records 100+ years ago
Search death records 30+ years ago
Search marriage records 50+ years ago
nsw.gov.au/family-and-relationships/family-history-search
Looking for a death, funeral or probate date?
This is a free index to death notices appearing in Australian newspapers, including Bathurst. Search a name to find a record of the date and newspaper where the notice was published. Indexing is carried out by a team of volunteers.
ryersonindex.org
Ancestry Library Edition
Find My Past
Family Search
Access historical databases and digitised records. Only available for in-library use. Access Ancestry and Find My Past via links on our website (in-house) and public computers. Access Family Search via links on our public computers.
Local History
Looking for land?
NSW Land Registry Services provides online access to more than 19 million images of historical maps, plans, titles, registers and indexes.
hlrv.nswlrs.com.au
Maps at Bathurst Library
Most of our maps are on the Historical Land Records Viewer, so try there first. If you still can’t find what you are after, ask library staff for access to physical maps. You will need to tell us a general area and date.
Searching for a property?
Start with Heritage Buildings of Bathurst, an index to eight heritage studies held at Bathurst Library. Access online via our catalogue or in person. Search by street or property name to find out in what study it appears.
Access the heritage study in person at the library.
Family History and Local History
If you have searched these resources and still can’t find what you are looking for, fill out an information request form. Bathurst Library staff will try to help.
The time it takes to complete a query depends on how much information we find and how easily we find it. We aim to respond to queries within four weeks.
Submit an information request
Alternatively, fill out a hard copy form at Bathurst Library, or call the library on 02 6333 6281.