Australia, Victoria, Inward Passenger Lists - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Index and images of the Victoria passenger lists. This collection combines two different records sets, "Passenger lists of unassisted immigrants to Victoria from the British Isles", and "Passenger list, arrivals in Victoria from foreign ports". Original images held by Public Record Office Victoria (PROV).

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in this record:
 * Name
 * Marital Status
 * Age
 * Profession
 * Nationality if British otherwise listed as "Foreigner"
 * Date of Departure from Original Port
 * Name of Original Port
 * Date of Arrival of Incoming Port
 * Name of Incoming Port

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of Passenger
 * Age at Immigration
 * Date of Immigration

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference; see below for assistance in citing this collection
 * Use the information which has been discovered to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
 * Continue to search the index to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives. Note that an individual did not always travel with family members, and if they did, these family members might not share the same surname

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct.
 * Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents to determine which candidate is the correct person. If listed, a personal title may be a clue to property ownership or occupation, either of which might be noted in other records
 * Check for variants of given names and surnames. For much of the period of this collection, spelling was not standardized; pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation. Simple clerical errors were also always possible. Furthermore, individuals were often listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name. For women, remember that it was not uncommon to revert to a maiden name after the death of a husband
 * Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches. Alternatively, try expanding the date range

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Australia.
 * Record Finder
 * Australia Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.