Australian Family History Course - Research Strategies and Resources

Our aim is to provide a comprehensive guide to researching families in Australia and placing them in a framework of place and time.

Full Course (Includes all 9 sessions)

To book individual sessions, please use the booking links listed next to each session below.

Session 1 - Australian Family History Course Launch & Introduction

Day Seminar - Library at the Dock (Docklands) or via Zoom
Saturday 21 March 2026 - 9:30AM - 4:30PM 

Pre-history Australia, First Nations People & traditions
Presenter: Clare Claydon, GSV member and volunteer
Clare will discuss resources for learning about First Nations’ history and culture and how these can be used in your family history stories.

European exploration, establishment of the colonies
Presenter: Emeritus Professor Richard Broome (La Trobe University)
Richard’s presentation will focus on deep time and the achievements of First Peoples in Australia. He will address land management, a viable and sustainable society with a rich culture of the mind.

Broad overview of resource types & GSV resources
Presenter: Meg Bate, GSV Library Manager

Research skills & techniques
Presenter: Fiona Tellesson, Founder, Experts in Genealogy
Fiona will guide participants through the research skills and techniques necessary to maximise your investigations into family history.

Cost:

  • GSV Members in person at Docklands $100 - login to Register 
  • Non-Members in person at Docklands $150 - Register 
  • GSV Members via Zoom $100 - login to Register  
  • Non-Members via Zoom $150 - Register

Session 2 - Finding and using Convict Records

Via Zoom - Thursday 26 March 2026 - 1:30PM - 3:00PM 

Presenter: Bronwyn Quint, Convenor of Convict and Transportation Discussion Circle
Bronwyn’s presentation will provide an overview of the convict system, including the records and other resources available to locate your transported ancestors and how this information can be used to enhance your family history writing.

Cost:

Session 3 - Finding and using records of Early Pioneers

Via Zoom - Thursday 30 April 2026 - 1:30PM - 3:00PM

Presenter: Bronwyn Quint, Convenor of Convict and Transportation Discussion Circle
Bronwyn's presentation will discuss the background to the arrival of early settlers, as well as the records available to trace them and research strategies for researching your ancestors from this era.

Cost:

Session 4 - Exploring Immigration & Shipping Records

Via Zoom - Thursday 28 May 2026 - 1:30PM - 3:00PM 

Presenter: Fiona Tellesson, Founder, Experts in Genealogy
Fiona will explore all aspects of immigration, including assisted schemes, shipping records, the dispersal of immigrants and internal migration (including coastal shipping).

Cost:

Session 5 - Finding and Using Vital Records

Via Zoom - Thursday 25 June 2026 - 1:30PM - 4:30PM 

Presenter: Dr Elizabeth Hartnell-Young (Honorary Fellow, Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne) & Meg Bate
Elizabeth and Meg's session will cover vital records including births, deaths and marriages, adoptions, wills and probate, inquests, divorces, naturalisation, cemeteries, letters, diaries and interviews.

Cost:

Session 6 - Finding and Using Early Land Records

Via Zoom - Thursday 30 July 2026 - 1:30PM - 4:30PM

Presenters: Margaret Fleming (GSV member, writer and former volunteer, Royal Historical Society of Victoria), Meg Bate and Richard Broome
The presenters will examine early land distribution resources, including squatting and land settlement records, and how to use them effectively.

Cost:

Session 7 - Finding and Using Gold Rush Records

Via Zoom - Thursday 27 August 2026 - 1:30PM - 4:30PM

Presenters: Fiona Tellesson & Meg Bate
Fiona and Meg will examine records relevant to the Gold Rush, including occupation, education, health and police records, Parliamentary papers, gazettes and electoral rolls.

Cost:

Session 8 - Finding and Using Military Records

Via Zoom - Thursday 24 September 2026 - 1:30PM - 3:00PM

Presenter: Trena Ronnfeldt, GSV Library Manager
Trena will explain how to trace and use military records through organisations such as the Australian War Memorial and the National Archives of Australia.

Cost:

Session 9 - Australian Family History Course - Course Completion

Day Seminar - Library at the Dock (Docklands) or via Zoom
Saturday 24 October 2026 - 9:30AM - 4:30PM

Techniques for placing your families in time and place and embellishing their stories 
Presenters: Trena Ronnfeldt, Meg Bate, Louise Millar-Hoffmann (GSV member and Discussion Circle co-convenor), Fiona Tellesson, Jill Trethewey (GSV member and presenter) and Stuart Minetti (GSV member, events admin and IT).

In this last session, we have assembled an excellent team of presenters to explore techniques for placing your families in time and place to enhance their stories using tools such as AI applications, WeAre.xyz, Google Earth, social media and resources from local and family societies, Trove and constructing timelines.

Cost:

 

 

 

Last updated on by Trena