Australia, Tasmania, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection will include records from 1803-1899 This collection contains civil registrations of baptisms, births, marriages, deaths, and burials in Tasmania, Australia. Original records are kept in the Archives Office of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia. At first, civil registration required the clergy to make copies of marriage, baptism, and burial records. These records are known as civil transcripts of church records. Because churches were involved in early civil registration, it is difficult to clearly distinguish between civil registration and church records. Later, about 1856, the responsibility for civil registration was placed in the hands of government employees independent of the church. Civil registration then required people to report all births, marriages, and deaths to a civil registrar.

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

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
These birth records may contain the following information:
 * Name of child
 * Date and place of birth
 * Name and surname of father
 * Name and Maiden name of Mother
 * Father’s occupation
 * Date of registration

These baptism records generally contain the following information:
 * Name of child
 * Date and place of baptism
 * Names of parents
 * Residence
 * Father’s Occupation
 * Gender

These marriage records generally contain the following information:
 * Name of bride and groom
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Age of bride and groom
 * Occupation of groom
 * Names of witnesses

These death records generally contain the following information:
 * Name of deceased
 * Date of death
 * Gender
 * Age
 * Occupation
 * Cause of death
 * Date of registration

These burial records generally contain the following information:
 * Name of deceased
 * Last residence
 * Date of burial
 * Age at burial
 * Occupation of deceased

How to Use the Record
To begin your search for birth or baptism records, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of parents
 * Approximate year of birth or baptism
 * Place

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


 * Name of bride or groom
 * Approximate year of marriage
 * Place

To begin your search for death or burial records, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Approximate year of death
 * Place

Search the Collection
To search the collection image by image select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "Place" ⇒Select the appropriate "Record Type" ⇒Select the appropriate "Archival Call Number and Record Description" which will take you to the images. Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

Keep in mind: There may be more than one person in the records with the same name. Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Registration of births, marriages and deaths was introduced in December 1838. Before that date, information can be traced through church records.

Related Websites

 * Colonial Tasmanian Family Links database

Related Wiki Articles

 * Australia Civil Registration- Vital Records
 * Tasmania BMDs
 * Australia Church Records

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 that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
Example for a Browsed Collection:

“Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 28 February, 2012), La Plata > San Ponciano > Matrimonios 1884-1886 >  image 71 of 389 images, Artemio Avendano and Clemtina Peralta, 1884; citing Parroquia de San Ponciano en la Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Matrimonios. San Ponciano, La Plata, Buenos Aires.