SOME IDEAS FOR TRACING ABORIGINAL HERITAGE | Annette Maie, Jan 2026
Finding Aboriginal heritage in families is not an easy task. Across Australia the massacres, the forced removal of children and families from homelands, the forbidding of practicing culture, forced changes of names, servitude, fostering and similar practices, and the necessity of hiding Aboriginality due to racism and fear of losing children, has resulted in family continuity and many records being lost.
The following online sites offer a starting point. Most collections are being continually updated as new information comes to light. Be aware that many original historical records held can be extremely confronting.
The National Library of Australia ‘Australian Indigenous family history’
https://www.nla.gov.au/research-guides/finding-indigenous-family-history
The National Library of Australia provides links to National and State organisations such as:
AIATSIS (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies) which has a family history guide and LinkUp.
https://aiatsis.gov.au/family-history
https://aiatsis.gov.au/family-history/you-start/link
LinkUpNSW is based at Ropes Crossing/Dharug Country and they also have a Facebook group.
https://www.linkupnsw.org.au/
Centre for Indigenous Family History Studies which is a collection of names mentioned in Federal and State archives.
http://www.cifhs.com/
National Archives of Australia, First Australians Family History – Beyond the National Archives
https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/first-australians/first-australians-family-history-beyond-national archives
Trove, an Australian online library database which includes full text documents, digital images, bibliographic and holdings data of items which are not available digitally
https://trove.nla.gov.au/
Researchers like James Kohen, based in Sydney, and Norman Tyndale, an anthropologist based in South Australia, have also compiled genealogies for specific family lines. Norman Tyndale’s genealogies are available online via AIATSIS.
James Kohen in his book The Darug and Their Neighbours: The traditional Aboriginal owners of the Sydney region (1993) has traced the Aboriginal descendants of – Robert and Maria Lock, Matthew Everingham,
John Luke Barber and John Randall. The book is available in council and university libraries in the Sydney basin.
Missions and Institutions. The list of missions in NSW where Aboriginal children and families were taken includes – Apsley Mission (c.1839–?), Blake’s Fall Mission (1832–?), Bomaderry Aboriginal Mission(1908–88), Bowraville Aboriginal Mission and School (1923–?), Brewarrina Aboriginal Mission (1886–1967), Goulburn Island Mission Station (1916–?), Lake Macquarie (Ebenezer) Aboriginal Mission (1824–41), La Perouse Aboriginal Mission (1885–?), Malgoa Aboriginal Mission Station (1874–94), Parramatta Aboriginal Mission (1820–28), St Clair/Singleton Aboriginal Mission (1893–1923). Sydney Aboriginal Mission, Warangesda Aboriginal Mission (1879–1920), Wellington Valley Aboriginal Mission (1832–42). (This list is from Wikepedia so is an indication only).
Some missions have been knocked down and some properties are being handed back into Traditional Custodians care.
The National Library of Australia holds mission and reserve records.
Find and Connect – History and Information about Australian orphanages, children’s homes and other institutions. https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/about/
Museums of History, NSW Archives – https://mhnsw.au/archive/subjects/first-nations/
State Library of NSW – https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about/indigenous-engagement
Local networks and sites, such as Facebook groups, Traditional Owners groups and centres, and Land Councils may also be of help.
First Nations Family Genealogy Service – https://www.firstnationsfgs.com/ – administered by Dhurga, Gumbaynggirr, Dharawal, Dhanghutti, Djirringanj, and Ngiyampaa man Graham Avery
There is Aboriginal Genealogy NSW Facebook which is a private group.
In the Hawkesbury region there is the Aboriginal Hawkesbury Family History Facebook which is a private group.
Many local areas have Traditional Owner groups and Reconciliation groups, which may be able to give advice. For example, in greater Sydney there is Darug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation. There is an active Sutherland Shire Reconciliation group in Dharawal country with knowledgeable Aboriginal advisors
and elders as well as the Dharawal/Yuin Nation Facebook group for the greater south coast. The Mt. Druitt and District Reconciliation Group covers western Sydney, also having knowledgeable Aboriginal advisors and elders.
Around Mudgee is Warrabinga Native Title Claimants Aboriginal Corporation – (https://warrabinga.com.au/ ) and Mudgee Local Aboriginal Land Council.
So as not to overload community and voluntary groups it is important to first conduct as much of the research as possible through online sites, State and National agencies, and Birth/Marriages/Death records.
Good luck with your search.
This research was put together by one of our members, Annette Maie, who administers the Mudgee and District Reconciliation Facebook group. She wanted to clarify that she is not indigenous, and hopes she is not breaching any protocols.