Parish Archives (1828 - )

Records

Parish and Family History Enquiries

The Diocese provides a research service for those seeking parish archival information and family history information (i.e. baptisms, confirmations, marriages and burials).

Information is also provided from the Diocesan records for former residents of the Diocesan Children's Homes i.e. St Saviour's in Goulburn, Bungarimbil in Tumbarumba & Birralee in Wagga Wagga. No charge is made for information from Diocesan Children's Home records.

Parish Registers:

It is the policy of the Diocese that parishes forward completed Baptism, Marriage, Burial and Service Registers and Parish Minute Books to the Diocesan Registry office for placement with the Diocesan Collection (MS 3085) held in the National Library of Australia (NLA). There are over 2000 items held in the Diocesan Collection at the NLA in optimum conditions for archival preservation. The earliest registers date from 1838.

NOTE: Parish correspondence, financial records, day books or old vestments are not transferred to the NLA.

Access Conditions

Access to the collection is determined by the Registrar of the Diocese (not by the NLA). The Diocese holds the copyright of all microfilmed registers. Microfilmed registers are on open access up to 1920.

For privacy reasons, records after 1920 are closed and are not available for public access. Requests for information from Registers after 1920 should be made in writing to the Diocesan Registrar.

Parish records are always accessible to the Rector of the parish. A letter of access must be obtained from the Registrar.