Finding Your Family History
On This Page
State Records of South Australia holds many records that may help you to research your family history. On this page we provide answers to common questions about how we can help.
What does State Records do?
State Records is the archives for the official records of State and Local Government in South Australia. The records in our collection are transferred into our custody when of no further active use to the government agencies that created them. Records can be viewed by the public at our Research Centres. Access conditions may apply.
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What types of records do you have?
Records covering almost every facet of public administration are included in the collection. The types of records created by past and present South Australian government agencies may include: - passenger lists
- school records
- Aboriginal records
- land records
- marine and harbours records
- S.A. Railways records.
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What records can I view?
Government agencies, in accordance with the State Records Act, 1997, determine whether records are Open or Unrestricted after a specified period of time. A record that is Open can be viewed at one of our Research Centres. A record that is Unrestricted after a specified period of time may require permission to view. To view records still under access restrictions, you will need to get written permission from the South Australian government agency that created or controls the records. Research Centre staff can provide advice about gaining permission to view.
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How can I view the records?
Once you have identified the records you want, they can be ordered using our catalogue, ArchivesSearch, which is available from the State Records website. If you are not familiar with the ordering process, we recommend that you visit a Research Centre and seek help to order from Research Centre staff. If you receive error messages, please seek help from Research Centre staff. Please note that there are no digital images of records available through the catalogue. Original records can only be viewed at a Research Centre.
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What assistance is available from State Records?
Research Centre staff can discuss your research with you when you visit a Research Centre. We can also provide some advice in response to email enquiries, but generally we do not carry out detailed research. However, we provide research advice sheets describing records in our collecton that relate to topics of interest to family historians. Further details on the research services we do offer can be found at the links below.
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What other Agencies in SA may be able to help?
For a list of organisations that may be able to help with your research, follow the links below.
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Clicking certain links on this page will transfer you, in a new window, to a non-State Records of South Australia Web site that is solely under the control of a party unaffiliated with State Records of South Australia. State Records of South Australia shall not be responsible for any content, product, or service offered on such Web sites.
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