NSW and ACT

The State Archives Collection contains records about various topics including Convicts, Immigration and Shipping, Land, Probate & Wills and others. 

State Archives Collection

Museums of History NSW (MHNSW) holds Registers of Dependent Children

These records relate to children who were admitted to State care between 1883 and 1923. They record where the dependent children were placed (whether with foster parents or guardians). Some of the children were eventually adopted. 

The registers give: name of child; age; religion; where received; name and known address of parents and remarks; particulars of foster parents and guardians - names, addresses, dates when received and when transferred, and how placed; and how eventually disposed of and date (this may be by adoption, back to custody of one or both parents, or the child may have attained the age of eighteen). 

This index records: child’s name, date of birth, date admitted to care, names of parents, and foster parents.  Record series in the index: NRS 13358.  Entries in the index: 28910 https://mhnsw.au/indexes/child-care-and-protection/dependent-children-registers/ 

Sands Sydney, Suburban and Country Commercial Directory, first published in 1858, covers a variety of information including street addresses and businesses, farms and country towns, stock numbers (e.g. horses, cattle and sheep on each station) as well as information about public watering places including dams, tanks and wells. With its primary function as a post office directory, it provides lists of householders, businesses, public institutions and officials. The Sydney edition was published annually from 1858 to 1933. Digitized copies can be accessed via City of Sydney Archives:  Sands Postal Directory | City of Sydney Archives

On the left hand side of the screen, click on Collection (68) underneath the heading Sands Postal Directory

City of Sydney Archives also have an on-line repository of Demolition Books – these contain photos of condemned buildings taken prior to demolition, between 1900 and 1931. Look under the Exhibition Content tab on their website. The Further Resources tab contains links to other potentially helpful information if your research includes historic inner Sydney.

Norfolk Island (Convicts were transported from Sydney):

First Penal Settlement: 1788 - 1805

Abandonment: From 1805, following an order issued in 1803, people started to abandon Norfolk Island, many by then being ex-convicts. The majority moved to Van Diemen’s Land, settling in the area of New Norfolk/Norfolk Plains. From Feb 1814 – June 1825, the island was uninhabited.

Second Penal Settlement: 1825-1855

Jen Willetts’ site, although predominantly covering Hunter Valley, Newcastle and Central Coast history, it also provides a good overview of Norfolk Island’s notorious history. Free Settler or Felon

For detailed history of Hunter Valley, Newcastle and Central Coast: Freesettler or Felon