Research your history
Family history
Trace your family history
Follow a family from the clues you already have into records, photographs and local stories.
House and building
Research a house or building
Build a dated evidence trail for a parcel, building and occupants-three related but different histories.
DNA
Use DNA genealogy carefully
DNA can suggest relationships and research paths; documentary evidence and informed consent remain essential.
Australian records
Find Australian records
Use free official indexes and catalogues first, then pay for a copy only when it answers a defined question.
Newspapers and local history
Research with Trove
Use digitised newspapers and other collections as searchable evidence, while checking the page image and OCR.
Military and cemeteries
Research military service and cemeteries
Use names, service identifiers and burial evidence together; avoid identifying someone from a name alone.
Schools and families
Research a school or former pupil
Trace a school, its changing name and surviving pupil records using local indexes and NSW archives.
Business and industry
Research a local business
Follow a shop, employer, company or industry through newspapers, directories and archive records.
Family history
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family history
Begin with family knowledge, place and specialist sources, and handle sensitive information with care.
Local history
Find and identify historical photographs
Search local collections, test captions and keep creator, source and reuse details together.
Local history
Research with historic maps
Find parish, town and subdivision plans, compare editions and follow land references without confusing a grant with a building date.
Family history
Research a convict ancestor
Trace a person from trial and transportation through colonial records, checking identities and gaps.
Let the Society help with your research
The Society can undertake professional research at $40 per hour. Tell us what you would like to discover, what you already know and any records you have checked. Contact the research centre to discuss your question and request a quote before work begins.
Email [email protected] or call (02) 4872 2169.
Local knowledge
Start with the research centre.
Explore the library and archives in Moss Vale. Bring what you know, the question you want to answer, and references for records you have already checked.
Plan a research visit