ROOT & GENEALOGY · Content updated on · Editorial method and sources
The relevant repository depends on arrival date and port. The National Archives of Australia holds federal series and some earlier records; state and territory archives are essential for other early arrivals. RecordSearch does not cover everything that ever existed.
The method, step by step
- Federal responsibility for arrivals began in 1924. For earlier years, check state or territory holdings and NAA’s exceptions, including Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland. Do not confuse the date range of an index with that of surviving records.
- Air passengers completed their own cards from 1948; ship lists continued until cards replaced them in 1965. Choose the format by transport mode and year. Read the form headings rather than expecting identical fields everywhere.
- For a focused search record ship or flight, date, port or airport and name variants. A907 and A906 refer respectively to inward and outward ship lists in the holdings described by Canberra; retain journey direction with the reference.
Read the records and build the connection
| Record element | What to record and check |
|---|---|
| Port and year | Identify the relevant federal, state or territory repository. |
| Format and direction | Distinguish list, card, arrival and departure. |
| Reference and identity | Keep series and number, then compare residence and relatives elsewhere. |
- Port and dates
- Repository and format
- Documented journey
Tick items as you read. Ticks remain only on this page and disappear when it is reloaded.
Record in your research log
- Port and year
- Format and direction
- Reference and identity
Frequently asked questions
Are all early Australian arrivals held by NAA?
No. Port and year determine whether federal, state or territory holdings apply. Federal responsibility began in 1924, with some earlier series held by NAA.
Sources & references
- National Archives of Australia — Passenger arrival records ↗ (Resource review date : )
- National Archives of Australia — Passenger records held in Canberra ↗ (Resource review date : )