Australia, Sydney Branch Genealogical Library, Cemetery Inscriptions - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection will include records from 1800 to 1960.

Extraction information was originally entered into books, but individual entries were later transferred to cards. The cards are arranged alphabetically within each cemetery. The transcription accounts were sometimes inconsistent in their entries and the search in Record Search collection has not always succeeded because of this. Record Search is attempting to identify and improve search for all entries. The card entries have been found to succeed.

For a list of localities currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

This cemetery transcription collection was begun approximately in 1950 by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints residing primarily in New South Wales and Queensland. Most information is extracted from the monuments, but extractions from a few burial registers are included. Each cemetery was not necessarily transcribed completely. Some transcribers only did those monuments for which they had a particular interest. The majority of the cemeteries are public cemeteries with only a few churchyards transcribed. Some tombstones may not have survived. Therefore, population coverage is not comprehensive.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Record Content
Key genealogical facts found in cemetery inscriptions usually contain the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Age of deceased
 * When and where died
 * Birth date of deceased
 * Birth place of deceased
 * Death and place of deceased
 * Names of parents
 * Name of spouse
 * Names of children
 * How many years in Australia
 * Cemetery and manner of burial
 * Names of witnesses
 * Source of information

How to Use the Records
Beginning Your Search

To begin your search, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Ancestors name
 * Place of death
 * Approximate year of death

Searching the Images

To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the "Record" category ⇒Select the "County" category ⇒Select the "Volume and Year" category which takes you to the images

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

Searching the Index

Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

Using the Information

Use the information that you have found on the tombstones to:


 * Locate death certificates which may have additional information.
 * Date of birth and names of parents and place of birth, if available, can be used to search for additional birth information.

Related Websites
Cemetery Inscriptions in Sydney Branch Library, 1800-1960

Related Wiki Articles

 * Australia
 * Australia Cemeteries

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records thatyou have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.