Tips for Queensland Research

Information about sources, research strategies and problem solving techniques for family history research in Qld, with helpful hints and money-saving tips.  The book describes various records and indexes on the Internet and at Qld State Archives, National Archives, Educational History Unit, Department of Families, State and genealogical libraries etc.  This edition (2008) significantly updates and expands the previous one.  New topics added include divorce;  originating summonses;  Pre-Separation;  protection orders;  undertakings re fares;  nurses;  masseurs;  shearers.

The book also deals with births, deaths and marriages (civil registration and alternative sources including cemetery records);  identifying the father of an illegitimate child;  orphans;  adoption records;  maintenance payments for deserted wives/children;  wills and intestacies;  immigration;  electoral rolls;  missing persons and people who 'vanished';  the 'black sheep' of the family;  mental asylum and Dunwich Benevolent Asylum records;  police watchhouse charge books;  CPS police charge bench books;  prison records;  criminal depositions;  murder files;  Police Gazettes;  Government Gazettes;  inquests;  preliminary enquiries and other 'no inquest' records;  insolvencies;  hospital admission registers and related records;  old age pension applicants;  equity files;  hotels and publicans;  miners;  teachers;  dentists;  doctors;  chemists/druggists;  engineers;  solicitors;  police;  public servants;  railway employees;  ship's crew;  land records;  Wallangarra quarantine registers (1918-1919 influenza epidemic);  school admission registers and school files;  Qld State Archives publications, facilities and services.  See book reviews below.  Paperback, spiral bound, A4, 39 pages.  $17 including postage within Australia.  Order a copy

Book Review (Tips for Queensland Research) by Nola Fulwood (archivist, Qld State Archives): I've really enjoyed reading the newest (2008) version of Judy's Tips. It is a joy to see what a researcher can do with determination and the right approach to locating material in a repository. Judy, as always, is very generous in sharing her work, and opening up new avenues for everyone to use. Although the book purports to be for Queensland research, do consider that all libraries and archives work in similar ways, and although records vary from place to place, it would be well worthwhile to apply these suggestions to your particular area of research. Just as important as what can be located, are the many cautionary words about referencing, always checking the original source, and of course, rechecking indexes and catalogues. Archives routinely add thousands of names to their databases. I notice in this edition many more references to Web sources. The Internet has changed the way we search, but this book underlines that for most quality research, we still need to go to the repositories that hold the records. Judy's meticulous approach has found countless 'lost' relatives. She shows that research in libraries and archives never finishes - there is always another treasure to be found. My advice is to read page one frequently. These are the words of experience that could save you countless hours and all your precious work. I've always admired Judy's knowledge and application of the issues of privacy, copyright and ethics. Do yourself a favour and read this new version of Tips for Queensland Research. It may well lead you to your 'lost' ancestors, and will certainly add to your knowledge, and improve your research techniques.

Book review (Tips for Queensland Research) by Loreley Morling (professional genealogist): The new updated edition of Tips for Queensland Research follows the same formula as previous editions but includes a wealth of new information. It is set out in an easy-to-follow style with an index of subjects at the front. There is general advice on research techniques, invaluable for the beginner and a great reminder for the more experienced researcher. Such comments as 'never rely on indexes' and 'always inspect the original source' can't be emphasized too often. Judy gives some useful tips for deciphering old handwriting, and reasons names might be mis-transcribed in indexes. There are also hints about using archives and libraries to the best advantage. Family historians are often so intent on finding dates and places of birth, death, marriage and emigration that they forget the less well-known sources, and Judy has done a great job bringing these to our attention. Records of benevolent asylums, mental institutions, school admissions and many other more obscure sources are discussed. These may be just the clue we are looking for to a person's residence, age or date of arrival in a certain area. Tips for Queensland Research is an invaluable resource for anyone researching Queensland ancestors. Many of the records discussed and handy hints provided apply to research in all areas. How wonderful it would be if we had similar publications for each state. Order a copy of 'Tips for Queensland Research'

Specialist Indexes in Australia: a Genealogist's Guide (2006 Supplement to 1998 ed.)

An 'index of indexes' (published & unpublished) with descriptions and contact addresses. It tells you how to gain access to over 700 indexes (many privately held and not available in libraries) for all parts of Australia and some overseas areas. Newspapers; local area sources; overseas records; One-Name studies; immigration; cemeteries; ships; electoral rolls; naturalisations; convicts; asylums; Masonic Lodge; occupational, military, church, school, court, council, police and undertakers' records, and a very wide variety of other sources and topics. New and updated entries only, so you may also need the 1998 edition. See book review below, and list of index titles.  Paperback, spiral bound, A4, 73 pages. $21.75 including postage within Australia.  Order a copy

Extract from a review by Dawn Montgomery: 'This index would be a worthy addition to anyone's genealogical library, and one which should be an essential acquisition for every family history / genealogical library in Australia.' (Qld Family Historian vol.28 no.1)

Index to Persons Arrested & Victims of Crime, Qld: South-West Qld 1889-1904

Index to three Police Department sources with details of persons arrested at Charleville, Adavale, Augathella, Cunnamulla, Eromanga, Eulo, Hungerford, Morven, Nocundra, Wooroorooka, Wyandra, Thargomindah and Upper Warrego. This index lists name, year, place and source reference, with which you can find the original records at Qld State Archives. Many of those records show the date of arrest, age, level of education, religion, occupation, birthplace (State or country), offence, how disposed of (fine, term of imprisonment, discharged, cautioned, committed for trial at which court and when, or sent to a reformatory or other institution), and sometimes a physical description. Paperback, A5. $6.20 including postage within Australia.  Order a copy

Index to Persons Arrested & Victims of Crime, Qld: Charters Towers & Cloncurry pre-1900

Two separate indexes in one volume: Charters Towers watchhouse charge books for part of 1895-1896 and 1899; and Cloncurry watchhouse charge books for part of 1874-1875 and 1887-1891. Each index lists name, year and source reference, with which you can find the original records at Qld State Archives. Those records often give date, town, prisoner's name, aliases, age, occupation, religion, state or country of origin, education level, offence, how disposed of (fine, term of imprisonment, discharged, cautioned, committed for trial at which court and when, or sent to a reformatory or other institution). Some registers also give details of previous convictions. Paperback, A5. $6.20 including postage within Australia.  Order a copy

Index to Old Age Pension Applications, Qld, 1908-1909

Index to 9,000 old age pension applicants (successful or rejected - including many unnaturalised immigrants who were not on electoral rolls). Most applicants were born in the UK, Ireland, Germany or Scandinavia but a few were born in Australia and elsewhere. This index lists names and source references, with which you can find the original records at Qld State Archives. Those records usually give date, town, age, years in Qld, amount of pension or reason for rejection, and country or Australian State of birth. A few give death date, street address, spouse, or remarks about the applicant's income, character etc. Two microfiche. $12 including postage within Australia.  Order a copy

Croydon Qld: Index to Hospital Admissions 1888-1919

Index to 5,000 Croydon Hospital patients (many from Victorian goldfields) during and after the gold rush in this major North Qld gold mining area. This index lists names and source references, with which you can find the original records at Qld State Archives. Those records have provision for name; date admitted; age; birthplace; occupation; religion; ship of arrival; how long in colony; place of residence; marital status; place of marriage, at what age, and name of spouse; names and ages of children living; number and sex of children deceased; father's name and occupation; father's present residence if living (or 'father dead'); mother's maiden name; disease or reason for admission; date of discharge, or date and cause of death; sometimes additional remarks (medical history, social circumstances etc.)  Hospital registers sometimes contain the only surviving reference to ship of arrival. One microfiche. $7 including postage within Australia.  Order a copy

Burketown, Ingham & Muttaburra: Indexes to Hospital Admissions

Three indexes (one for each town) in one volume: Burketown 1909-1923;  Ingham Aug 1889 - May 1890;  Muttaburra 1887, 1892-1894, 1921-1928. These indexes list names and source references, with which you can find the original records at Qld State Archives. Those records have provision for name; date admitted; age; birthplace; occupation; religion; ship of arrival; how long in colony; place of residence; marital status; place of marriage, at what age, and name of spouse; names and ages of children living; number and sex of children deceased; father's name and occupation; father's present residence if living (or 'father dead'); mother's maiden name; disease or reason for admission; date of discharge, or date and cause of death; sometimes additional remarks. Hospital registers sometimes contain the only surviving reference to ship of arrival. Paperback, A5. $6.20 including postage within Australia.  Order a copy

Brisbane Hospital, Qld: Index to some patients in 1887, 1900, 1901 & 1902

Index to four volumes of admission records for Brisbane Hospital. This index lists names and source references, with which you can find the original records at Qld State Archives. Those records often give date admitted; age; birthplace; occupation; religion; ship of arrival; how long in each Australian State; last residence, and if there less than three months, previous residence; marital status; place of marriage, at what age, spouse's name; names/ages of children living; number/sex of children deceased; father's name, occupation and present residence if living (or 'father dead'); mother's maiden name; employment, wages, other sources of income, other wage-earners in the family, property, membership of clubs or benefit societies (or father's employment details etc.); name/address of relatives or friends; disease or reason for admission; discharge date or date/cause of death; if previously admitted, the reason. Paperback, spiral bound, A4, 22 pages. $12.45 including postage within Australia.  Order a copy

Index to Eventide (Sandgate, Qld) Registers of Deaths 1954-1959

Eventide provided for poor people who because of age, infirmity or otherwise, were unable to care for themselves. This index to Eventide death registers lists name, maiden surname for women, year of death, and source reference. You need this information to apply for Right to Information access to the registers, which show name, signature, date admitted, from where, cause of admission, age (often exact birth date), birthplace, religion, marital status (married, single, widowed, apart), occupation, pension, father's name and occupation, mother's maiden name, husband's name or wife's maiden name, where married, at what age, children (often name, age, exact address), other relatives (siblings, cousins, grandchildren etc., often with exact address), person to be contacted in emergency, height, weight, eye colour, hair colour, history, clinical record and conduct, leave of absence, transfers, discharges. Paperback, A5. $6.20 including postage within Australia.  Order a copy

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Monumental Inscriptions of South-West Qld. Vol. 1: Thargomindah, Eulo and Wyandra to 1985.

Published 1994. Headstone transcriptions with indexes. Reprint planned. Contact (type this into an email) and request 'SWQ MIs vol.1 notification'.

Monumental Inscriptions of South-West Qld. Vol. 2: Cunnamulla General Cemetery to 1989.

Published 1994. Headstone transcriptions with indexes. Reprint planned. Contact (type this into an email) and request 'SWQ MIs vol.2 notification'.

Unrelated Certificates Index (Australia).

Index to all names appearing on hundreds of donated Australian certificates (includes witnesses, doctors, relatives, maiden names etc.) 6-volume set, out of print. Consolidated index planned. Contact (type this into an email) and request 'Unrelated Certs Consolidated Index notification'.

Index to Insanity Files c1865-1918 (Qld mental asylum patients) - contact (type this into an email) and request 'Insanity Files index notification'.

Index to certain records of Stewart's Creek Prison (Townsville, North Qld) - contact (type this into an email) and request 'Stewarts Creek Prison notification'.

Index to Persons Arrested and Victims of Crime: Croydon, Gympie, Ravenswood (other areas to follow)