Did your ancestors play sport? Perhaps they were a champion cricketer, a keen footballer, a prize-winning cyclist, or simply a valued member of the local bowls or tennis club.
Sporting pursuits often left a rich trail of records in newspapers, club histories, photographs and memorabilia. Have you explored this fascinating aspect of your family history? You may discover that sport played an important role in your ancestors' lives and communities.
From local cricket clubs and early footy leagues to forgotten sporting heroes, the list below gives just a little taste of what you can find in the GSV Library (either electronically or in hard copy).
Our wonderful volunteers have indexed thousands of articles from journals from around the world. These indexes can be searched when you visit the GSV Library. Alternatively you can opt for a free (for members) Quick Look up request for someone to search an index. If you can’t get into the city, check your eligibility for our distant member research offer.
https://www.gsv.org.au/research-services
Whatever your family's game was, simply type your sport of interest into our catalogue search (yes, you can search from home) - odds are, we have the perfect article to bring your family history research to life.
Topic Sport
The Commonwealth Games 1930-2002.
Journal Title: Family history monthly 83 (Aug 2002)
Athletics, politics and society in Thurles and Moycarkey 1838-1876. Tobin, J M
Journal Title: Tipperary historical journal 2018
A bibliography of sport in Co. Tipperary pt 1-2 (The GAA). Bracken, Patrick
Journal Title: Tipperary historical journal 2017-2018
Dressing to win: how sports clothing has developed over the decades.
Journal Title: Family tree 28:10 (Jul 2012)
Sports and sporting clubs of Bendigo.
Journal Title: Golden links 85 (Jan/Feb/Mar 2010)
The historic sporting landscape.
Journal Title: Local history magazine 82 (Nov/Dec 2000)
Sporting men - old time reminiscences. McLee, Carol
Journal Title: Cleveland FHS journal 15:7 (Jul 2023)
Topic Athletics
Athletics in the Doncaster area.
Journal Title: The Doncaster ancestor 15:1 (Spring 2005)
Early athletics in Essendon.
Journal Title: Essendon historical journal 2 (Spring 2010)
Early East Surrey Olympians.
Journal Title: East Surrey Family History Society journal 35:3 (Sep 2012)
Victorian athletes.
Journal Title: Footprints 27/8:3 (Feb 2006)
Library Location: Digital copy @ GSV premises
Was there an athlete in your family?.
Journal Title: Family tree magazine 14:8 (Jun 1998)
Topic Swimming
Sunshine's first Olympic swimming pool.
Journal Title: The Sunshine recorder 5:7 (Sep 2008)
Swimming history discovered.
Journal Title: Kith and kin 39 (Dec 1995)
Bagpipes and cross channel swimming.
Journal Title: Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society journal 66 (Feb 1998)
Miss Muriel Woodwards: the first woman to swim from Guernsey to Herm.
Journal Title: La Societe Guernesiaise 24:1 (Summer 2010)