Finding an Irish Ancestor Using Australian Records

Ireland Ireland Emigration and Immigration

Notes on Immigration
The Irish did not immigrate to Australia in large groups or during specific time periods. They did immigrate individually or a few at a time. Irish were among the convicts who were shipped to New South Wales as early as 1788 and Tasmania in 1804. Some contain such details as the immigrant's birthplace; residence in Britain; education; mother's maiden name; and father's name, occupation, and residence. Passengers came unassisted, meaning they paid their own way. Others were assisted, meaning their passage was paid by the government or an individual. When their passage was paid, the debt had to be repaid.

In Australia, immigration records are kept at state archives. Many pre-1900 immigration records are available in the Family History Library. See what their collection has by. The library also has some.

How to Use This Page
Search each of the Web sites and sources listed under the state(s) where your ancestor lived. Look for clues pointing to a place of origin in Ireland. Each index and source covers a different time period. It's important to understand what's covered instead of assuming that every Web site and source is complete for every year and every name. Some links lead to articles about immigration.

Databases

 * AUSNZ Passengers
 * Australian Transport Records - National Library of Ireland 1791-1853
 * Convict Transportation Registers Database

Databases

 * Ireland-Australia transportation database includes not only convicts but convicts' families and free settlers.
 * Assisted Immigrants, 1839-1896
 * Index to the Unassisted Arrivals NSW 1842-1855
 * Passenger Indexes (various years and ports)
 * Galway Emigrant Index 1828 - 1864

Databases

 * Index to passengers &amp; ships arrivals - 19th Century
 * Index to Tasmanian Convicts, 1804-1853
 * Passenger lists, 1827-1862 (various ports)
 * Tasmania 1831 Passenger Lists

Databases
Famine Orphan Girl Ships to Australia

Databases

 * Galway Emigrant Index 1828 - 1864

Databases

 * Index to Assisted British Immigration 1839-1871
 * Assisted Immigration to Victoria 1836 to 1879 Ships

Databases

 * Convicts to Western Australia has information and links to several databases.