GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Australia Deaths

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find death information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the death section of the Australia Guided Research page.

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1816-1980:  Australia Deaths and Burials at MyHeritage ($)
 * 1860-2019:  Australia Death Notices at MyHeritage ($)
 * 1900-2019:  Australia, Index of Burials  at MyHeritage ($)

Additional Records with Death Information
Substitute records can contain information about more than one event, and are used when records for an event are not available. Because the substitute records may not be created at the time of the event, it may contain incorrect information. Search for as many substitute records as possible to corroborate information found in substitute records to help improve accuracy.

Tips for finding deaths
Successfully finding death records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Search given name. Search by given name (leave out the last name) with the approximate date of birth or death.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate birth date or parent's names if known.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search a few years.
 * Search state/territory. Search using the state/territory name only instead of by town/city.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start The dates of commencement of civil registration in each colony/state and territory are:


 * Note 1. Civil registration commenced in Queensland when it was still part of the Colony of New South Wales. The relevant records were transferred to the control of the new Colony of Queensland at its formation in 1859.


 * Note 2. Civil registration began in the Northern Territory when it was administered from Adelaide. Responsibility was taken over by the Commonwealth from South Australia in 1911. The function was transferred to the Northern Territory Government in 1978 when internal self-government was granted.


 * Note 3. Civil registration began in the Australian Capital Territory from the creation of the Territory. At first, the function was carried out by New South Wales until 1930 when the Commonwealth took over. In 1988, the function was transferred to the Government of the Australian Capital Territory when internal self-government was granted.

Records Destroyed Some records may have been lost, destroyed, or damaged. More specific information is not known. Civil registration records are generally complete.