Australia, Victoria, Inquest Deposition Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains digital images of court inquest records from the Public Records Office of Victoria in North Melbourne, Australia. The collection will also include Inquest Deposition Files created by the Coroners Court of Victoria. The years covered include 1840-1925. Earlier records are handwritten.

Most genealogical records found in Australia are in English. However, due to immigrants coming from various countries throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, variations in spelling may appear in many of the records. See Australia Language and Languages for further help.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Inquest Records may contain the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Cause of death
 * Date of death
 * Place of death
 * Age of deceased
 * Date of Inquest
 * Names of any witnesses
 * Testimonies of witnesses

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Given name
 * Gender
 * Death or burial place

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select Event Year
 * 2) Select Inquest Number to view the images.

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?

 * Search for death records
 * Search for death or burial information in the BillionGraves Index or at Find A Grave
 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname
 * Search the records of nearby areas

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

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname
 * Search the records of nearby areas
 * Check for other names. An individual might appear under an unexpected name for a variety of reasons:
 * A woman may have returned to her maiden name after the death of her husband

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.