These are public entry points to independent institutions, not databases owned by Before Us. Check coverage and record types, then search with a specific question.
Read practical guides to family interviews, identity checks, old photographs, migration records and preservation. Every article includes sources and Chinese and English versions.
Find historical records, family history catalogues and research guidance. Begin with a name, place and date to look for potentially relevant material.
Some records require sign-in. Access to particular images depends on the original site’s conditions.Visit FamilySearch (new window)Search historical newspapers for names, family notices, businesses and local events. Return to the original newspaper page to check a lead in context.
OCR in old newspapers may contain errors. Try variations of a name.Visit Trove historical newspapers (new window)Explore person-search resources and guidance for records relating to migration, arrival and Australian federal matters.
A catalogue record does not mean an image is online. Some records have access restrictions.Visit National Archives of Australia (new window)Explore record types and research directions for births, marriages, deaths, migration and other family history questions.
Custodians vary by state, period and record type.Visit National Library of Australia (new window)Some family history material remains in local archives, libraries, clan associations and family paper collections. Registers, headstones, local histories and old documents can provide leads, but record their edition, custodian and page references.
Before contacting an institution, prepare the person’s name, approximate dates, places, material already checked and one clear question. Respect the source’s access, privacy and copying conditions.
Before Us does not bypass sign-in, payment or archive access restrictions, or guarantee access to every record at these resources. External links checked on 3 October 2026.
Use what you know to decide what to investigate next.