Our Collection

Members (login for access to our New catalogue and databases) 

Non members (a free search)

If unable to visit the research library, you may like to use our research services.

Library Catalogue

The library catalogue lists all our physical and digital holdings, web links to major genealogical resources, webcasts, and information about the records in our indexes. In many instances, the Catalogue may provide futher information about the records indexed that have geen indexed in the databases.

Family histories

The GSV Collection covers families from royalty to paupers. Items include a large range of published volumes, modest self-published works and manuscripts. A significant collection of over 1300 digitised family histories and genealogical charts are available online within the library. In some cases the copy in the GSV collection is the only copy in existence.

Periodicals and journals   

Access over 200 Australian and international family history periodicals from groups around the world, as well as special interest magazines. These periodicals form a resource you would have difficulty finding anywhere else. We also have many periodicals which have ceased, such as The Irish ancestor and The Irish genealogist  in searchable PDF format. These periodicals are indexed and can be searched in our catalogue. All printed journals published prior to 2015 are now located at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, while digital issues are held at the GSV.

Webcasts  

Members can watch and listen to nearly 200 presentations of talks on a wide variety of topics specifically for family historians. These contain expert advice on research topics such as using Scottish records or finding wills.

Milestones

Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths and Burials etc. Records includes church registers, newspaper notices, obituaries and cemetery headstones and register transcriptions. A mostly Victorian database of over 1 million entries.

GSV Genealogical Index of Names (GIN)

More than 3 million references to people mentioned in our library holdings and elsewhere. Victorian resources indexed into this database include directories, newspapers, hospital, criminal, passenger arrivals, parilmentary papers, family histories and school records as well as pioneer registers and published books. In fact any material that we can index to make it more available to ur members.

VicFamilies

A register of our members' research interests in Victoria. More than 44,000 names are listed.

Scottish places

A database of over 3000 parishes, towns, villages etc. providing parish number references to our collection of 1841 and 1851 Scottish census records and parish registers. Census records are now readily available, but obscure or duplicated place names are not so easy to find. Details of the Scottish registers and census records that we hold on microfilm and fiche have also been incorporated..

GIN@GSV

A database of more than 1.4 million records with copyright restrictions that may only be viewed in our library. Includes names mentioned in materials held in our library. Most of these records are from England and published by other organisations. This database include baptisms, marriages, deaths, burials, poor law and militia records.

Jewish Chronicle

An index to personal announcements 1900-1909 from the oldest and most influential Jewish newspaper based in London. This was published by another organization and cannot be incorporated into our existing databases.

• Ancestry™
• Findmypast™
• TheGenealogist™
• British Newspaper Archive™
• MyHeritage™
• Biographical Database of Australia™

The GSV collection an extensive range of books to guide you through researching records in countries from Barbados to Ukraine; foreign language dictionaries to assist with research; guides to particular types of records such as occupations, or pauper records and a collection of maps and atlases. Handbooks on using technology, searching databases, writing, publishing and dating photographs are also available.

As library is split between our current premises and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria (RHSV). An agreement between the two societies provides access to the combined collection for GSV members. Those that are now at the RHSV have a prefix RHSV in the catalogue.

If the Call /Shelf number has a RHSV prefix:

• Email collections@historyvictoria.org.au your request with the title and call/ shelf number and your GSV membership number. Please provide at least one day’s notice. Item requests can only be taken by email. 
• The RHSV will confirm by return email when the item is ready for you. 
• Present your GSV Membership card on arrival (otherwise the RHSV Day Visit fee would apply).

How to get to the RHSV

Royal Historical Society of Victoria is at 239 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne. The entrance to the RHSV is in A'Beckett St.

Opening Hours: Library and Office: Weekdays 9am – 5pm. Phone number 9326 9288

Walk: A 10-15 minute walk from the GSV.

Tram: From the GSV Centre in Queen Street take Tram 55 up William Street, and get off at the LaTrobe Street stop. 

Bus: There are frequent buses up Queen St from GSV to A'Beckett Street.

Train: To Flagstaff Station, and walk one short block up William St to A'Beckett Street.

The GSV welcomes the donation of books, journals and manuscript material of a genealogical nature. In particular the GSV can provide a lasting refuge for original family histories and accompanying research material. This will mean that the fruit of your research will be preserved and made available for others. This is especially valuable for small print-run booklets and unpublished manuscripts. Your family's memories can contribute to the larger history of Australia.

Space is increasingly at a premium for all libraries and much of this material will be kept in digital form. It may also be indexed and able to be searched in the GSV's databases.

Please read and complete the GSV donation form (PDF) to accompany any donated material.