Australian Family History Research Checklist
Tick each source as you search it — record findings separately on a research log
Vital Records (BDM Registries)
Birth certificate — self
Birth certificate — parent 1
Birth certificate — parent 2
Birth certs — grandparents (paternal)
Birth certs — grandparents (maternal)
Marriage certificate(s)
Death certificate(s)
Electoral Rolls
Federal electoral rolls 1903+ (NAA / Ancestry)
State electoral rolls
Early colonial muster rolls (NSW)
Census & Colonial Records
1828 NSW Census
1841 NSW Census
1851 Victoria Census
Convict records (if applicable)
Assignment / conduct records
Church Records
Baptism / christening record
Marriage register
Burial / funeral record
Confirmation or communion record
Newspapers (Trove — trove.nla.gov.au)
Birth notice
Marriage notice
Death / funeral notice
Obituary
Inquest / coronial records
Court and legal notices
Property / auction notices
Immigration Records
Assisted emigration / bounty records
Ship passenger lists
Naturalisation records
Passenger cards (post-1966, NAA)
Military Records
WWI service record (NAA RecordSearch)
WWII service record (NAA RecordSearch)
Boer War / other conflicts
Medals, honours and mentions
Other Sources
Cemetery / headstone transcription
Probate / wills (state archives)
Land records / Crown grants
AIATSIS (Indigenous family records)
State library / local history collection
School / university records
familytreemaker.app — free printable templates