Indigenous Australian Family History Resources

Introduction | Family History/Genealogy | North Queensland History |
Guides to other Library Collections and Archives | Almanacs and Directories |
Australian Servicemen | Immigration/Emigration/Naturalisation | Registers |
Newspapers | Internet Resources | Other Libraries and Associations

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Introduction

This guide has been written to assist Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander family historians locate sources available to them at James Cook University, as well as some suggestions for resources located elsewhere.

It does not provide a full listing of all titles available. Additional information can be found by consulting the Library's online catalogue, Tropicat. A guide to searching Tropicat may be obtained from InfoHelp on the first floor of the Library Building.

Locations referred to are in the Townsville library. Location prefixes used in this guide are:

MC - Microfiche Collection
NQ - North Queensland Collection
MF - Microfilm Collection
R - Reference Collection

Call numbers without prefixes are held in the general collection. A map of the Library is available from InfoHelp on the first floor.

North Queensland Collection

This is a collection of books, journals and some audiovisual materials relating to North Queensland. Items in this collection may not be borrowed. Some titles are held in the general collection as well.

Microfiche and Microfilm

Almanacs, directories and newspapers are among the material held in the Microform collection. Special machines are required to read and print from them. If you are unfamiliar with the operation of this equipment, please contact the Copying Services Office (4781 4603) to make an appointment on weekdays (9am-3pm) to have its use demonstrated.

Archives

The Library Archives may contain useful material, including station records. Archives are not included in Tropicat, but a list is available. You must make an appointment in advance to use this collection. This can be done by phoning the Special Collections Librarian (07) 4781 4220.

Printing and Photocopying

The Library's photocopiers and microfilm printers are operated by special plastic charge cards. These may be purchased from Copying Services located on the ground floor of the Library Building.

Reference Collection

Encyclopedias and dictionaries are materials that can help in searching for words and meanings. Items in this section may not be borrowed but can be photocopied.

 

Family History / Genealogy

The library holds a number of genealogical handbooks, which can be located by searching Tropicat under 'keywords in title, subjects etc.' and typing 'genealogy handbooks'. More general titles can be found by typing in 'genealogy'.

Australian Archives. (1988). Relations in records: A guide to family history sources in the Australian Archives. Canberra: AGPS.

R 929.394016 AUS

Bradley, J. (1986). Roll call! A guide to genealogical sources in the Australian War Memorial. Canberra: Australian War Memorial.

R 929.394016 ROL

Lucas, R. (1986). Resources for Aboriginal family history. Canberra: Australia Institute of Aboriginal Studies.

R 929.349 RES

Rigsby, B. (1999). Connections in Native Title: Genealogies, kinship and groups. Canberra: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Australian National University.

306.32089925 CON

Schafer, T. (1999). Tindale: Genealogy name index: For the Indigenous Resource Unit, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. South Brisbane: State Library of Queensland.

R 923.3943 TIN

Smith, D. & Halstead, B. (1990). Lookin' for your mob: A guide to tracing Aboriginal family trees. Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press.

R 929.10899915 SMI

Taylor, P. (1992). Telling it like it is: A guide to making Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history. Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

994.0049915 TAY

 

North Queensland History

The North Queensland Collection holds published Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources on North Queensland history. Check Tropicat for locations other than NQ. Some examples are:

Brayshaw, H. (1990). Well beaten paths: Aborigines of the Herbert Burdekin district, North Queensland: An ethnographic and archaeological study. Townsville: Department of History, James Cook University.

306.089991509436 BRA

Breslin, B. (1992). Exterminate with pride: Aboriginal-European relations in the Townsville-Bowen region to 1869. Townsville: Department of History & Politics, James Cook University.

305.8991509436 BRE

Campbell, A H. (1958). The Aborigines and Torres Islanders of Queensland. Brisbane: Western Suburbs Branch, United Nations Association.

323.11991 ABO

Dixon, R. (1991). Words of our country: Stories, place names and vocabulary in Yidiny, the Aboriginal language of the Cairns-Yarrabah region. St Lucia: University of Queensland Press.

499.15 WOR

Guy, R. (1999). Baptized among crocodiles: A history of the Daintree Aboriginal Mission 1940-1962. Mossman: Assembly of God.

994.0049915 GUY

Loos, N. (1982). Invasion and resistance: Aboriginal-European relations on the North Queensland frontier 1861-1897. Canberra: ANU Press.

305.8991 LOO

May, D. (1983). From bush to station: Aboriginal labour in the North Queensland pastoral industry, 1861-1897. Townsville: History Department, James Cook University.

331.699915 MAY

Mercer, P. M. (1995). White Australia defied: Pacific Islander settlement in North Queensland. Townsville: Department of History & Politics, James Cook University.

994.3004995 MER

Moore, C. (n.d.). Pacific Islander birth, marriage and death register sortings from Mackay, 1878-1959. (2 vols).

NQ 929.9436 PAC

Price, C. (1984). Language of the Townsville area (Coonambella). Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.

NQ 499.15 PRI

Queensland. Office of the Northern Protector for Aboriginals. Annual report of the Northern Protector of Aboriginals (1901-1902 and 1904 -1917). Brisbane: Government Printer.

354.9430084 P2

Reynolds, H. & Mabo, E. (1993). Race relations in North Queensland. Townsville: Department of History & Politics, James Cook University.

305.8009436 RAC 1993

Rosser, B. (1994). Return to Palm Island. Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.

305.8991509436 ROS

Thomson, J. (1989). Reaching back: Queensland Aboriginal people recall early days at Yarrabah. Canberra: Australian Studies Press.

305.8991509436 REA

 

Guides to other Library Collections and Archives

Australian Archives. (1993). My heart is breaking: A joint guide to records about Aboriginal people in the Public Record Office of Victoria and the Archives, Victorian Regional Office. Canberra: AGPS.

R 994.50049915016 AUS

Fraser, R. (1993). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Commonwealth records: A guide to records in the Australian Archives. Canberra: AGPS.

R 305.89915016 AUS

Queensland State Archives. (1994). Records guide: A guide to Queensland government records relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Brisbane: Queensland State Archives & Department of Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs. R

305.89915016 QUE

 

Almanacs and Directories

Port Denison Times Almanac and Directory, 1868

MC 897

Pugh's Almanac and Directory, 1859-1920

MF R1-29

 

Australian Servicemen during the Two World Wars

Official history of Australia in the War of 1914 - 18. (12 vols). Sydney: Angus & Robertson. (Contains many names, gives troop movements, etc.)

940.394 OFF

James McClelland has written numerous books covering war casualty lists for Australian soldiers in various countries. To locate, search Tropicat under 'Author' for 'McClelland James'.

Ball, D. (1991). Aborigines in the defence of Australia. Sydney: Australian National University Press.

940.5315039915 ABO

Charters Towers State High School. (1995). We fought for our country too: Charters Towers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community experience of World War ll. Charters Towers: The Author.

NQ 940.5404 WE

 

Immigration, Emigration and Naturalisation Records
(Also Shipping History, Lists of Ships Passengers).

Our guide Family History: A select guide to sources lists resources on this. Copies are available from InfoHelp.

 

Registers

Births, Deaths, Marriages

The Queensland Registrar-General's Office has produced microfilm indexes for birth, baptisms, marriages and burials for 1829 - 1899. To locate, do a Basic Search on Tropicat and type: 'queensland registrar'.

Cemeteries

Charters Towers City Council. (1986). Graves registration report: All cemeteries, alphabetical sequence. Charters Towers: The Author.

NQ 352.72099436 GRA

Genealogical Society of Queensland, Townsville Branch. (1986). Monumental inscriptions, Belgian Gardens Cemetery. Townsville: The Author.

NQ 929.5099436 MON

Genealogical Society of Queensland Townsville. Monumental inscriptions, West End Cemetery. Townsville: The Author.

NQ 929.5099436 MON T2

 

Newspapers

The Library has a collection of North Queensland newspapers available for genealogical research. Some are on microfilm including:

Townsville Daily Bulletin 1890-1897; 1912-1984

MF AJ

Cairns Argus 1890-1987

MF FS 66

Full newspaper holdings may be found using Tropicat, or ask for the booklet North Queensland Newspapers: A select list of sources, available at the InfoHelp or Special Collections desk. Also have a look at our guide NQ Newspapers: A finding aid .

 

Internet Resources

There are more family history resources on the Internet. Listed below are some websites which are useful in genealogical research. Many provide links to other associations and genealogical resources around Australia.

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies: Family History Unit

First Families 2001

Indigenous Library Services
This State Library of Queensland website includes:

• Getting started on your Indigenous Family History - useful guidelines to help Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander researchers
• Tindale Alphabetical Index - an index of the names of Indigenous people recorded in the Queensland component of the Tindale Collection
• Indigenous Military Index - an index of the names of Indigenous Queensland soldiers
• 100 Years of Queensland Aboriginal History - history and images showcasing a century of Aboriginal life in Queensland since 1897.
  

Indigenous Libraries Unit
Part of Indigenous Library Services, this unit is located in Cairns and serves the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in North Queensland. This website links to the ILU's online community and family history project Footprints Before Me as well as to community web pages for Kowanyama, Torres Strait Island, Yarrabah and Hopevale.

South Australian Museum: Indigenous Services
This museum holds the original Tindale genealogy collection.

Indigenous Australian Studies (JCU Subject Resources Guide)
This guide includes the links above as well as other genealogy and history links

Other sites may be located by typing the words you are looking for into a search engine such as Google.

 

Other Libraries and Associations

You may also find useful information by visiting or contacting:

Aitkenvale Library 2 Petunia Street Aitkenvale QLD 4814 Phone: (07) 4727 8329	Indigenous Libraries Unit Eureka Street PO Box 668M Manunda Cairns QLD 4870 Phone: (07) 4031 3232
Community and Personal Histories 46 Charlotte Street GPO Box 806 Brisbane QLD 4001 Phone: (07) 3404 3622 Freecall: 1800 650	Indigenous Resource Unit State Library of Queensland PO Box 3488 South Brisbane QLD 4101 Phone: (07) 3840 7911
Family History Association of North Queensland Inc 5 Baker Street Hermit Park  Qld 4812 PO Box 3659 Hermit Park Qld 4812 Ph: 07 4728 2833 Email: fhanq@fhanq.org	Genealogical Society of Queensland PO Box 8423 Woolloongabba QLD 4102 Phone: (07) 3891 5085
Link up Queensland Aboriginal Corporation 47 Cordelia Street South Brisbane QLD 4101 PO Box 1128 Cooparoo QLD 4151 Phone: (07) 3255 0855	National Library of Australia Canberra ACT 2600 Genealogy Section Phone: (06) 2621 1352

 

If this information is inadequate, incorrect, or can be improved in any way, please let us know