Family History

Family History is one of the fastest growing leisure activities and at Preston Library we have many resources and records to help you to find out about your ancestors.

Arrange an introductory session by leaving your details with a staff member and we will contact you to make an appointment.

If you'd like to be informed about forthcoming events and additions to our local and family history resources, just complete the Local and Family History Register.

Family History websites FREE for you to use on your laptop or our computers (only available at the library)

Ancestry.com
Find your ancestors in Australia, America, the United Kingdom and some European countries. Search through census, birth, marriage and death records and much more.
Australian electoral rolls, births, deaths and marriages are now featured.

findmypast (UK)
If your ancestor is from the United Kingdom this will prove to be a valuable resource for your research. Included in the very comprehensive collection are census, military, births, marriages, deaths and migration records.

findmypast (Australasia)
Search family history records from Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands

findmypast (Ireland)
Search family history records from Ireland

British Newspaper Archives
Historical newspapers, articles, family notices and advertisements spanning three centuries

Other Useful links

Public Records Office of Victoria
PROV is the archives of the Victorian State Government holding records
from the 1830s

Genealogical Society of Victoria
A leading family history society with an extensive collection of local and overseas records

National Archives of Australia
Learn how to view original military & migration records to help with your research

Family Search
A huge collection of worldwide family history records