Our Local history collection includes heritage study, historical resources and recent reports of the Parramatta area, settlement, development, communities and events.
Community Profile
- Includes results from the 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991 Censuses of Population and Housing
http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/your_council/future_planning/parramatta_lga_demographics_and_data
Population Forecasts
- Population Forecasts attempts to make projections on the total size and composition of the population of the Parramatta City Council within a 20 year span
http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/your_council/future_planning/parramatta_lga_demographics_and_data
Newspapers
The library has access to historic Australian newspapers and older editions of local newspapers at the Local Studies Library.
Cumberland Argus Sep 1888 – Oct 1962
Parramatta Advertiser Jul 1956 –
Parramatta and Hills News Jan 1957 – Jun 1982
Parramatta Journal Mar 1995 –
The Sydney Gazette Mar 1803 – Jun 1880
Sydney Gazette Card Index 1803 – 1829
Sydney Gazette Manuscript Index 1803 – 1826, 1827 – 1842
Sydney Morning Herald Card Index, Jan 1842 – Jan 1845, 1904 – 1918
The Sydney Mail, June 1860 – Dec 1938
Cumberland Free Press, Sept 1896 – Jun 1897
Advocate (Parramatta), Jun 1975 – May 1976
Chronicle (Parramatta), Oct 1958 – Mar 1961
Courier (Parramatta), Dec 1960 – Jan 1962
Granville Independent, Sep 1900 – Mar 1901
Auburn News and Granville, Sep 1903 – May 1935
Auburn and Lidcombe Advance, Dec 1925 – Dec 1939
Parramatta Messenger, Jan 1847 – Jun 1847
Sydney Morning Herald Index to B.M.D. & F. notices 1831 – 1853
Parramatta Chronicle & Cumberland General Advertisers, Dec 1843 – Dec 1847
Parramatta City News, Dec 1928 – Dec 1929
Cumberland Times, Jan 1903 – Jun 1911
Parramatta Argus, Jul 1977 – Nov 1977
Cumberland Mercury, Jan 1875 – Apr 1895
Farm and Garden (Parramatta), Oct 1958 – Jan 1984
Chinese Times, Dec 2002 – Mar 2003
Hills District Farm and Garden, Jan 1984 – Feb 1985
Weekly Advance (Granville), Feb 1892 – Jan 1893
Local Newspapers (Hard copies)
Hills Shire & Times (July 1985 – Jun 1986)
The Hills District Farm and Garden (1969 – 1984)
Mercery (Aug 1977 – March 1995)
Parramatta Advocate ( June 1965 – Dec 1975)
Parramatta hills News (July 1965 – June 1982)
Sydney Morning Herald (Microfilm Reels)
Search every edition of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Sun-Herald from 1831-
Sands Directories
Sands Directories were published between 1858/1859 – 1932/33 and is used for tracing both local and family history. They were published yearly (except 1860, 1862, 1872, 1874, 1878 and 1881). Major sections are:
- alphabetical surname and given name index
- a municipal section
- trades and professions section.
They list occupiers of houses, not necessarily owners.
The Municipality of Parramatta was first listed in 1884.
A complete set of Sands Directories is available on microfiche and Public PCs.
The alphabetical surname and given name section is also searchable on Ancestry.com
Trove
- Provides access to over 90 million items, ranging from books and journals to maps and music, from a multitude of sites
Sydney morning Herald
Search every edition of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Sun-Herald from 1831-
Vertical Files
- The vertical files are folders of documents and research on individuals, places, streets, houses, and subjects related to Parramatta area.
Subdivision Plans
- Land subdivision plans were produced by real estate agents to publicise the sale of their subdivision. They show the position of individual blocks as well as prominent buildings or landmarks in existence at the time of the subdivision. They can indicate when an area was settled and an approximate date a building was constructed. However, the fact that a subdivision was planned does not mean it went ahead.
Parramatta Rate Books on Microfilm
1864-1868
1900-1948
1870-1900 Anderson Ward
Parramatta Assessment Books on Microfilm
1869-1899 Anderson Ward
1870-1899 Marsden Ward
1869-1899 Gore Ward
1869-1899 Forrest Ward
Parramatta Valuation Books on Microfilm
1908-1916
St John’s Church of England Parramatta Church Registers
1789-1973 Baptisms
1790-1976 Marriages
1790-1939 Burials
1911-1925 Confirmations
All Saints’ Church of England Parramatta Church Registers
March 1844 – July 1944 Baptisms Marriages Burials
St Patrick’s Catholic Church Parramatta Church Registers
1826-1919 Baptisms
1836-1905 Marriages
1840-1888 Burials
August 15 1880 Confirmations
Research Guides:
Research guides assist in starting research and directing towards the key resources on selected subjects – local history, family history, BDM, convicts, electoral rolls etc.
- Local Studies & Family History Flyer
- Australia Births, Deaths, Marriages and Cemetery Transcriptions
- Convict, Court and Police Records
- Female Factory, Female Orphan School, Prisons & Asylums
- Pioneer Biography, Family Histories & Historical Societies
- Shipping Records for Family History Research
- Researching Indigenous Ancestry, History & Culture A Select Bibliography
- Census & Electoral Rolls – Occupational, Business, Medical, State & Local Government Records
- International Records & the IGI
- Military Records & Information
- Parks & Reserves – Placenames, Gazetteers, Roads, Directories and Maps
Other Resources:
Our Library holds a large collection of books, journals, online resources, databases, newspapers, church records, cemetery records to support the research.
Ready Reference
The Local Studies collection at Heritage Centre Library is a specialised reference collection that can help you research the history of the area and the people who have lived here.
Aborigines
- The Archaeology of The Dharawal People of NSW – Photographic archive of research based on rock carvings and drawings of the Dharawal People around bushland and shores of NSW.
http://www.lesbursill.com/site/index.html
- Barani- Indigenous history of Sydney City with life stories and images of many Indigenous men and women who have made great contributions to their people and their country.
http://www.sydneybarani.com.au/
- National Native Title Tribunal – the latest news, maps and developments in Native Title.
http://www.nntt.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx
- New South Wales Department of Aboriginal Affairs – part of the NSW Government, this department works with Aboriginal people, government agencies, and the private and community sectors to promote the interests of Aboriginal people in NSW.
http://www.aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au/
- Stories of the Dreaming – Australian Museum site providing stories of the history and culture of indigenous Australians handed down since the beginning of time.
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Stories-of-the-Dreaming
Military Records and Indexes
- Australian War Graves in South Africa, 1899 – 1902 – This site includes a searchable database of information from Australian Boer War memorials.
http://www.hagsoc.org.au/sagraves/
- Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour Database – A searchable honour roll database providing details of Australia’s war dead.
http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/roll_of_honour/
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission – This Register provides personal and service details and places of commemoration for the 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First or Second World Wars, as well as record some 60,000 civilian casualties of the Second World War is provided without details of burial location.
- Nominal Roll of the AIF who served overseas 1914-1918 – A Searchable index of approximately 324,000 names of members of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) who served overseas during the First World War.
http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/nominal_rolls/first_world_war/
- World War II Nominal Roll – A searchable index created to honour and commemorate the men and women who served in Australia’s defence forces and the Merchant Navy during World War II.
Female Factory
Historical Societies
- Parramatta District & Historical Society, http://www.parramattahistorical.org.au/
- Granville Historical Society, http://www.granvillehistorical.org.au/
Searching the Registrar General’s Maps and Plans
http://www.lpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/150706/Searching_RG_Maps_Plans.pdf