Ask an Archivist

Our reading room is at 161 O'Connell Street, Kingswood.

• For opening hours and directions please see Plan Your Visit »

We hold archives of NSW Government agencies.

• We don’t hold private records for example personal papers, personal diaries or company records. Start your search for private papers of NSW citizens at the State Library of NSW.
• We don’t hold Commonwealth Government records. These are held by the National Archives of Australia.

• Start by checking the Research A-Z, a list of research topics.
• Search the catalogue Collection Search for keywords, especially those that were commonly used for the topic at the time of your interest
• Search for records of the agency that may have created records about that subject

See more information about how to use the Collection »

When you are researching family history using our Collection think about how the people you are seeking interacted with the NSW government agencies during their lives (eg: land, law, employment), or in the event of their death (eg: inquest or estate).

• Check our Family History Guides
• Search our catalogue Collection Search and the Online Indexes for people and places
• See Research A-Z for a list of research topics

See more information about how to use the Collection »

We do not hold these records. For copies of birth, death and marriage certificates registered in NSW and to search the NSW historical Birth, Death and Marriage indexes visit the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages website which includes:

• NSW Births that are over 100 years old
• NSW Deaths that are over 30 years old, and
• NSW Marriages that are over 50 years old.

We hold records of 80 000 convicts transported to NSW between 1788 and 1842.

• Search our Convict indexes
• See our Convicts Guide for more information

We hold immigration records to Sydney between 1788 and 1922 including records of convicts and crew. Unassisted passenger and crew records, especially prior to 1854, are incomplete. Many passenger records are very limited, eg: ‘Mr & Mrs Smith & infant’.

• Have you tried searching searching our online indexes?
• See our Immigration and Shipping resources
• View digital shipping lists for assisted immigrants, 1828-1896

If you are looking for immigration records from 1923 onwards contact the National Archives of Australia.

Probate packets contain the paperwork collected by the Supreme Court as part of the process of granting probate. Probate packets include the will of the deceased, where there was one. We hold probate packets 1800-1976 and some from 1989.

• You can order copies of probate packets from our catalogue in Collection Search
• See our Probate Guide for further information

Divorce files contain the paperwork collected by the Supreme Court of NSW for a divorce case. We hold divorce files for most of the years 1873-1976.

• You can order copies of divorce files from our catalogue in Collection Search
• See our Divorce Guide for further information

Divorce records after 1976 are held by the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

We hold patient records from State-run mental health facilities. Patient identifying records are open to public access after 110 years.

• Find out more about the records
• Find out how to obtain permission to access records less than 110 years old

Court records are arranged by Jurisdiction. You need to know which Court heard the matter, the locality of the Court and the date. Not all court records have been transferred into the State Archives Collection and may still be held by the relevant Court.

• See our Court Research Guides
• Search the Court Indexes

Some NSW public schools have transferred into the NSW State Archives Collection admission registers and other records such as punishment books and examination registers. Admission registers held in the Collection are listed by the name of the school in either:

• Index to Schools and Related Records, or
• Collection Search

If we do not hold the register you are seeking, it may still be held by the school. For more information about school pupil records held in our Collection see the School Students Records Guide »

Contact the NSW Education Standards Authority for

• Replacement copy of intermediate certificate, leaving certificate, school certificate or higher school certificate
• Record of School Achievement (ROSA) from 2012

Search the NSW Education school history database for basic details of NSW government schools including opening and closing dates and alternative names.

• Check the Index to Schools and Related Records for the name of the school
• Check Collection Search for the name of the school
• See the School Records Guide for more information

Search for the item in Collection Search. If an original item can be viewed in the reading room the clipboard icon will be visible from the search results and the full details page.

• See more information on how to make a Reading Room Request »
• You do not need to preorder a record copied onto microfilm or microfiche

We recommend you order records before you visit the reading room this gives us time to process your requests and have the records ready when you arrive.

You will need a readers ticket to complete your request for original records in Collection Search and to use them in the Reading Room.

• Fill out the application form here »

If the records you require are copied onto microfilm/microfiche you do not need a reader's ticket.

You don't need a log in to search, pre-order reading room requests or purchase copies of records but a Collection Search account will let you save search queries, view your search history and add tags to search results.

• See what you can do with an account »

Our staff will offer expert and professional advice on all aspects of your research however we do not offer a research service.

• See our Enquiry Services Guide for more information about our enquiry service and details of organisations that maintain lists of professional researchers

You can order copies of many files and documents listed in Collection Search. An item with the shopping cart symbol  indicates that you can order copies. Follow the prompts to order and pay for your copies.

• See more about our Copy Service »

Our standard turnaround is 15 working days from date of receipt of order to despatch of copies.

Yes. During your visit you may photograph the records using your camera / smartphone / tablet or you can use our photocopy service for a fee. You can also scan images of most original records to your USB stick for free using the mounted cameras, and scan microform material using our digital scanners.

If you intend to use your personal scanner please contact the Senior Archivist, Access and Information at info@records.nsw.gov.au before you visit.

• See our Reading Room Guide for more information