Discovering Our Past

Records Not Held by State Records

On This Page

• Births, Deaths and Marriages
• Adoptions
• Crew Lists
• Electoral Rolls
• Land Titles and Deeds
• Naturalisation
• Wills
• Church Records

Births, Deaths and Marriages

Civil registration began in South Australia in July 1842. Certificates (or extracts) of births, deaths and marriages are available from the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Office.

Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Office
Office of Consumer and Business Affairs
Level 2, Chesser House
91 - 97 Grenfell Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8204 9599

Microfiche copies of the original indexes are available at the State Library of South Australia and other public libraries.

Indexes can be purchased from the South Australia Genealogy and Heraldry Society.

Adoptions

The Adoption and Family Information Service administers the Adoption Act, 1988 and is responsible for all records of adoptions of children by residents of South Australia.

Adoption and Family Information Service
1st Floor
45 Wakefield Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8207 0066
Email: Adoption and Family Information Service

Crew Lists

The Adelaide Office of the National Archives of Australia holds a variety of records relating to ship crews including deserters, discharges, and engagements from 1852.

National Archives of Australia (Adelaide Office)
78 Angas Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8409 8400
Email: National Archives of Australia

Extensive information on ships and maritime history is also held by the State Library of South Australia.

Electoral Rolls

South Australian electoral rolls from 1905 are available for public access, on microfilm, at the Adelaide office of the National Archives of Australia.

National Archives of Australia (Adelaide Office)
78 Angas Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8409 8400
Email: National Archives of Australia

Electoral rolls are also held by the State Library of South Australia.

Land Titles and Deeds

Under the Real Property Act of 1858, transfer of land ownership was made by registration and certification rather than by deed. The certificate of title was retained by the Lands Titles Office and subsequent transfers of ownership were recorded. Certificates are available from the Land Services Group.

Land Services Group
Ground floor, 101 Grenfell Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8226 3983
Email: Land Services Group

Prior to 1858, only deeds were issued, these are held in the General Registry Office.

General Registry Office
Building 4A
300 Richmond Road
Netley SA 5037
Telephone: (08) 8226 4809

Naturalisation

Microfilm records of persons naturalised in South Australia from 1848 - 1903 are held by the Adelaide Office of the National Archives of Australia.

National Archives of Australia (Adelaide Office)
78 Angus Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8409 8400
Email: National Archives of Australia

Microfiche copies of the index for the period 1848 - 1903 are also available at the South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society and the State Records of South Australia.

South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society
GPO Box 592
Adelaide SA 5001
Telephone: (08) 8272 4222
Email: South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society

Post 1903 naturalisation records are held by the National Archives of Australia.

National Archives of Australia
PO Box 7425
Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610
Telephone: (02) 6212 3900
Email: National Archives of Australia

Wills

The Probate Registry Office holds wills and related documents from 1844.

Probate Registry Office
1 Gouger Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8204 0505
Email: Probate Registry Office

Church Records

Anglican, Congregational, Methodist, Presbyterian and the Society of Friends records held previously by the South Australian Archives are now held by the State Library of South Australia.

State Library of South Australia
North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8207 7250
Email: State Library of South Australia

Catholic Church records are held in the Archives of the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide.

Adelaide Archdiocesan Archives
39 Wakefield Street
Adelaide SA 5001
Telephone: (08) 8210 8115
Email: Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide Archives