Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1921

Source Information

Ancestry.com. Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1921 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.
Original data: Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1921. The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

About Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1921

About the Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1921

General collection information

This collection contains an index of birth records from the state of Victoria, Australia between 1837 and 1921. Primary source records originally came from both church and civil services. Per Australian law, birth records are available to the public after 100 years.

Using this collection

Records in this collection may include the following information:

  • Name of child
  • Names of parents
  • Registration year
  • Registration number
  • Registration place

    • Each record contains a link to the original document which may contain more information.

    If you can't find a record and your family member's parents were recent immigrants to Australia, you may also wish to check newspapers from your ancestor's homelands for clues. Birth announcements would often be published both by Australian newspapers and local newspapers in the subject's original hometown to help keep separated families connected. When searching newspapers for birth announcements, always search by the names of parents, as the name of the baby was rarely included. You may also try searching the registries of ships inbound to Victoria. The records of those who were born onboard a ship at sea won't appear in this collection.

    If you need to order an official birth record, you may purchase one from the Victoria Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages.

    Collection in context

    Victoria, Australia was originally part of the colony of New South Wales. In 1850, the Australian Colonies Government Act allowed for the Port Phillip District to separate and form its own state, to be named for the reigning British queen. Civil registration began in Victoria, Australia in July 1853. Prior to civil registration, most vital records were kept by churches.

    Bibliography

    Births, Deaths, and Marriages Victoria. "Search Your Family History." Last Modified November 22, 2022. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history.

    National Library of Australia. "Victoria." Last Modified August 1, 2022. https://www.nla.gov.au/research-guides/australian-birth-death-and-marriage-records/victoria.

    Travel Victoria. "History Timeline." Last Modified May 7, 2021. https://www.travelvictoria.com.au/victoria/history/.