<h2>Birth, death and marriage records</h2>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/">Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages</a> is the main website for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family history.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Check the <a href="https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/">Registry indexes</a> for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander births, deaths and marriages as early as European settlement. Use the registration number to order a copy of the birth, death or marriage <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/birth-death-and-marriage-certificates">certificate</a>.</li>
	<li>Compulsory registration of births, deaths and marriages occurred in 1856 when Queensland was part of New South Wales.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander births, deaths and marriages were not consistently registered in Queensland until the 1940s.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Registry offices outside Queensland</h3>

To apply for a birth, death or marriage certificate outside of Queensland please visit the appropriate registry office for more details.

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/s/article/apply-for-a-birth-death-or-marriage-certificate-tab-overview">Australian Capital Territory</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/">New South Wales</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.dia.govt.nz/Births-deaths-and-marriages">New Zealand</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://nt.gov.au/law/bdm">Northern Territory</a></li>
	<li>Papua New Guinea - see below</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/family-and-community/births-deaths-and-marriages">South Australia</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/bdm/home">Tasmania</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/">Victoria</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.bdm.dotag.wa.gov.au/default.aspx">Western Australia</a></li>
</ul>

State Library of Queensland has copies of indexes to births, deaths and marriages. See <a href="https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/State%20Library%20of%20Queensland%20research%20guide%20-%20BDMs%20-%202022%2007.pdf">Research Guide&nbsp;: Births, deaths and marriages</a> for more information.

Papua New Guinea

Enquiries about births, deaths and marriages that occurred in Papua New Guinea can be made by writing to:

Civil Registry Office 
PO Box 470 
WAIGANI 
National Capital District 
Papua New Guinea

Sambra Haus - Waigani 
Telephone: + (675) 313 3000 Ext:7002

Civil Registry Office - Boroko 
Telephone: + (675) 323 6510

<h3>What if I can't find a birth, death or marriage certificate?</h3>

If you have not been able to find a certificate of birth, death or marriage other information may be available:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/atsi/cultural-awareness-heritage-arts/family-personal-history">Community and Personal Histories team</a></li>
	<li>Church contacts - see below</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/research-collections/family-history/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people/tindale">Norman Tindale Collection of Aboriginal genealogies</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/research-collections/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-collections/margaret-lawrie-collection">Margaret Lawrie Collection of Torres Strait Islander genealogies</a>.</li>
</ul>

Birth, death and marriage records

<h2>Adoption records</h2>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/community/caring-child/adoption/contact-adoption-services">Adoption Services Queensland</a> is where to start your adoption search. It is free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.</li>
	<li>Other relatives such as spouse, parent, sibling or adult child can apply for identifying information.</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/act-2009-029">Adoption Act 2009 (Qld.)</a> no longer allows 'objections to the disclosure of identifying information' but adopted people and birth parents still have the right to not be contacted.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/community/caring-child/adoption/post-adoption-support-services/what-type-information-provided">Identifying information</a> includes the adopted person's full name, information about the birth mother and birth father, if known, and any adopted siblings. Documentation usually includes a copy of your original birth certificate.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Other places to look</h3>

<ul>
	<li><a href="http://www.naa.gov.au/">National Archives of Australia</a> has created a Bringing Them Home <a href="https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/first-australians/bringing-them-home-name-index">name index</a> to records in its collection that are relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The index was a recommendation in the <a href="https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice/publications/bringing-them-home-stolen">Bringing Them Home</a> report into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="http://www.link-upqld.org.au/">Link Up Queensland</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/atsi/cultural-awareness-heritage-arts/family-personal-history">Community and Personal Histories</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/archives">Queensland State Archives</a></li>
</ul>

Adoption records

<h2>Police records</h2>

<ul>
	<li>The Native Police controlled Aboriginal people before Queensland separated from New South Wales in 1859. Torres Strait Islanders were under the control of the Police Magistrate on Thursday Island.</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.police.qld.gov.au/museum">Queensland Police Museum</a> holds records going back to 1864.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Held at State Library of Queensland:

<ul>
	<li>Find a name in the <a href="https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/discovery/search?query=any,exact,Police%20Gazette%20inquests,AND&amp;tab=All&amp;search_scope=family_history&amp;sortby=rank&amp;vid=61SLQ_INST:SLQ&amp;lang=en&amp;mode=advanced&amp;offset=0">Police Gazette Inquests 1875-1885 index</a> through One Search.</li>
	<li>Browse the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/slq-police-gazette-inquests-1875-1885/resource/15d01937-097c-45ed-a365-feb493b05c2c">Police Gazette Inquests 1875-1885 </a><a href="https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/slq-police-gazette-inquests-1875-1885/resource/15d01937-097c-45ed-a365-feb493b05c2c">index</a>&nbsp;records&nbsp;on Open Data Portal.</li>
	<li>Visit us for&nbsp;<a href="https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/discovery/search?query=any,contains,%22queensland%20police%20gazette%22%20NOT%20reported&amp;tab=All&amp;search_scope=SLQ_collections&amp;vid=61SLQ_INST:SLQ&amp;lang=en&amp;offset=0">Queensland Police Gazette</a> from 1867 to 1945 on CD-ROM,&nbsp;microfilm or digitised.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>For police gazettes from other states, see <a href="https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/State%20Library%20of%20Queensland%20research%20guide%20-%20Police%20records%20-%202021%2011.pdf">Research Guide - Police records</a>.</li>
</ul>

Find out more about <a href="https://aiatsis.gov.au/family-history/family-history-sources/official-records/police-gazettes-court-and-gaol-records">Police gazettes, court and gaol records</a> in the AIATSIS guide.

See also

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.police.qld.gov.au/index.php/queensland-police-museum/policing-queensland-timeline-1864-2014">Queensland Police's Brief history 1864-2014</a></li>
</ul>

Police records

<h2>Station records</h2>

Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders are sometimes named in station records such as:

<ul>
	<li>accounts ledgers (include payments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers)</li>
	<li>station managers' diaries</li>
	<li>overseers' diaries</li>
	<li>photo albums.</li>
</ul>

Held at State Library of Queensland:

Books

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/discovery/search?query=any,exact,Atlas%20of%20Queensland%20and%20Northern%20Territory%20pastoral%20stations&amp;tab=All&amp;search_scope=SLQ_collections&amp;vid=61SLQ_INST:SLQ&amp;offset=0">Atlas of Queensland and Northern Territory pastoral stations</a> / Terrance Alick (GCS 919.43 1994)</li>
	<li><a href="https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/11l3i0/alma99427874702061">From bush to station : Aboriginal labour in the North Queensland pastoral industry, 1861-1897</a> / Dawn May (G 994.3 1978)</li>
</ul>

Original material

<ul>
	<li>Search <a href="http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/">One Search</a> catalogue using "station records" or if the name of the station is known such as "glengallan station"</li>
</ul>

Held at James Cook University:

<ul>
	<li>Some records of <a href="http://libserver.jcu.edu.au/specials/stations.html">North Queensland stations</a>. Each station record can be searched online by personal name.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Contact the <a href="https://libanswers.jcu.edu.au/form?queue_id=2079">Special Collections Librarian</a> for access.</li>
</ul>

Station records

<h2>Missions and Reserves</h2>

<ul>
	<li>Before the <a href="http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-54.html">Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 (Qld.)</a> Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mission stations were set up by religious organisations.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Small amounts of land were gazetted as reserves for Aboriginal people. Reserves were run by the Government, not by religious organisations.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The 1897 Protection Act was applied to all Aboriginal reserves. Superintendents were appointed to carry out the Act. &nbsp;Missionaries also became Superintendents.</li>
	<li>Most Aboriginal reserves in Queensland were never "managed" reserves so no Superintendent was appointed. These reserves were controlled by the Local Protector of Aborigines.</li>
</ul>

Search our catalogue:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/discovery/search?query=sub,contains,aboriginal%20reserves%20queensland,AND&amp;tab=All&amp;search_scope=SLQ_collections&amp;vid=61SLQ_INST:SLQ&amp;lang=en&amp;mode=advanced&amp;offset=0">Aboriginal Reserves - Queensland</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/discovery/search?query=sub,contains,aboriginal%20missions%20queensland,AND&amp;tab=All&amp;search_scope=SLQ_collections&amp;vid=61SLQ_INST:SLQ&amp;lang=en&amp;mode=advanced&amp;offset=0">Aboriginal Missions - Queensland</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/discovery/search?query=sub,contains,torres%20strait%20missions,AND&amp;tab=All&amp;search_scope=SLQ_collections&amp;vid=61SLQ_INST:SLQ&amp;lang=en&amp;mode=advanced&amp;offset=0">Torres Strait - Missions</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/discovery/search?query=sub,contains,torres%20strait%20reserves,AND&amp;tab=All&amp;search_scope=SLQ_collections&amp;vid=61SLQ_INST:SLQ&amp;lang=en&amp;mode=advanced&amp;offset=0">Torres Strait - Reserves</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/discovery/search?query=any,exact,australian%20board%20of%20missions,AND&amp;tab=All&amp;search_scope=SLQ_collections&amp;sortby=rank&amp;vid=61SLQ_INST:SLQ&amp;lang=en&amp;mode=advanced&amp;offset=0">Australian Board of Missions</a></li>
</ul>

The Queensland Government has more information in <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/firstnations/cultural-awareness-heritage-arts/community-histories">Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community histories</a>.

Missions and reserves

<h2>Church records</h2>

Church records can include:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>baptisms</li>
	<li>christenings or dedications</li>
	<li>marriages and&nbsp;</li>
	<li>burials.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

The major Queensland churches with records about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are:

Anglican Church - <a href="http://www.anglicanarchives.org.au/">Records and Archives Centre</a>

<a href="https://www.qldacc.org.au/contact/">Australian Christian Churches</a>

Catholic Church - <a href="https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/about/archives">Archives of Archdiocese of Brisbane</a>

For more information also contact the <a href="https://www.gsq.org.au/">Genealogical Society of Queensland</a>.

See also

<ul>
	<li>For information about Queensland Missions and Institutions responsible for children see: <a href="https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20140226140013/http://www.cssa.org.au/storage/A%20Piece%20of%20the%20Story.pdf">A piece of the story</a></li>
	<li>For information about records for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders at Hammond Island Mission, Hamilton Island, Sacred Heart School or Sacred Heart Hospital contact Sacred Heart Church, Thursday Island. 
	Sacred Heart Church Thursday Island 
	Post: PO Box 142, Thursday Island, Queensland, 4875</li>
</ul>

<a href="https://www.amtglobal.com.au/">Christian Brethren</a>

Lutheran Church

<ul>
	<li><a href="http://www.qld.lca.org.au/">Queensland</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.lca.org.au/departments/ministry-support/lutheran-archives">Lutheran Archives</a></li>
</ul>

<a href="https://www.pcq.org.au/contact-us-at-pcq.php">Presbyterian Church</a>

This Church was involved with Aurukun (1904-1987), Mornington Island (1914-1978) and Weipa (1896-1966). To find records for your family check the book, <a href="https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/11l3i0/alma994979324702061">Mission Time</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.salvos.org.au/">Salvation Army</a>

All records for former children in care have been sent to Sydney. The Salvation Army ran Indooroopilly Boys Home (Alkira), Riverview and Boothville hospital and the Purga Aboriginal School between 1915 and 1948.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.adventist.org/">Seventh Day Adventist Church</a>

This Church ran the Mona Mona Mission between 1913 and 1962.

<a href="http://www.ucaqld.com.au/">Uniting Church</a>

The John Oxley Library manuscripts collection holds <a href="https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/discovery/search?query=any,contains,uniting%20church%20australia%20synod%20queensland&amp;tab=All&amp;search_scope=SLQ_collections&amp;vid=61SLQ_INST:SLQ&amp;offset=0">Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Queensland records</a>. The conditions for access are as follows: unrestricted access to records more than 20 years old; baptismal, marriage and burial registers are restricted in accordance with the Registrar General's Office, Queensland.

Church records

<h2>Queensland legislation</h2>

With colonisation, Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders were subject to a range of legislative controls. &nbsp;

After separation of Queensland from New South Wales the administration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs was under the Colonial Secretary's Office for Queensland. From 1896 it became the Home Secretary's Office.

<a href="http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-54.html">Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 (Qld)</a> created the positions of Protectors of Aboriginals and the Office of the Chief Protector of Aboriginals.

The 1897 Act and amending Acts of 1901, 1927, 1928 and 1934 gave the Chief Protector of Aboriginals enormous control over the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland.&nbsp;

Records were created on the thousands of individuals who were subject to this legislation. &nbsp;These are an invaluable source of information for family history researchers. &nbsp;

Access to these files is managed by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/firstnations/cultural-awareness-heritage-arts/family-personal-history">Queensland Government’s Community and Personal Histories</a> Team.

For more information:

<a href="https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/research-collections/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people/community-history">Community History</a>.

Queensland legislation records

Queensland State Archives

Centre for Indigenous Family History Studies

Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Community and Personal Histories

Queensland Government legislation and Protectors' reports

The Bringing Them Home name index assists First Nations peoples discover records in the national archival collection to help them reunite with their family, country, and history: <a href="https://bit.ly/2TqQ6tJ">https://bit.ly/2TqQ6tJ</a>

National Archives of Australia

The records listed below can be useful for tracing First Nations family history. Each page has information about where records are found and how they can be accessed. Find out how records can help you piece together the puzzles of your family tree.

<a href="https://patron.slq.qld.gov.au/Register">Join online</a> to become a State Library member and access our services, collections and facilities.

Finding records

Records outside State Library