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Family History –
Using Births, Deaths and Marriages Indexes at PROV

Click here for a PDF version (245k)

 

Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Indexes are available in PROV Reading Rooms at both the Victorian Archives Centre and the Ballarat Archives Centre at public computers. 

 

Index entries provide basic registration information, including the registration number required to order a birth, death or marriage certificate from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages at www.bdm.vic.gov.au.

Available Births, Deaths and Marriages Indexes

Seven Registry of Births, Death and Marriages Indexes are available online in PROV Reading Rooms:

·                Pioneer Index 1836-1888

·                Federation Index 1889-1901

·                Edwardian Index 1902-1913

·                Great War Index 1914-1920

·                Marriage Index 1921-1942

·                Death Index 1921-1985

·                Marine Births, Deaths and Marriages Index 1853-1920

Pioneer Index

The Pioneer Index is an index to early church records of baptisms, burials and marriages, from 1836 to 1853, and civil records of births, deaths and marriages registered in Victoria from 1853 to 1888.

Federation Index

The Federation Index is an index to births, deaths and marriages registered in Victoria from 1889 to 1901.

Edwardian Index

The Edwardian Index is an index to births, deaths and marriages registered in Victoria from 1902 to 1913.

Great War Index

The Great War Index is an index to births, deaths and marriages registered in Victoria from 1914 to 1920.

Marriage Index

The Marriage Index is an index to marriages registered in Victoria from 1921 to 1942.

Death Index

The Death Index is an index to deaths registered in Victoria from 1921 to 1985.

Marine Births, Deaths and Marriages Index

The Marine Index is an index to births, deaths and marriages registered by ship captains from 1853 to 1920 and submitted by them to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.  An image of the original birth, death or marriage certificate is attached to index entries. 

 

Occasionally, related documentation is attached to death entries.  Related documentation may include correspondence belonging to the deceased person.

A Quick Guide to Searching CD ROM Births, Deaths and Marriages Indexes

Step 1: Select one of the births, deaths and marriages indexes listed on the main menu of the public computers, by clicking on the appropriate icon.  This will open the search screen for the selected index.  The searchable fields available on a search screen may vary between indexes.  For example, the Pioneer Index includes a ‘denominational ‘ field and the Marine Index includes a ‘ship’ field.  Standard fields include Family Name or Surname, Given Name, Event, Spouse Surname or Father, Spouse Given Name or Mother, Birth or Death Place, Year and Registration Number.

 

Step 2: Enter information in one or more fields to undertake a search.  It is recommended that a broader search be undertaken, rather than a more detailed search.   A broader search will ensure that a wider range of alternative entries will be displayed in the results list.  To achieve the best results from a search several search paths could be undertaken.  A surname could be misspelt or the given name abbreviated.  Searching births under the mother’s maiden name could produce more results than the father’s surname.  It is also advisable not to insert a year for a birth or death entry as registrations were often recorded in the subsequent year.

 

 

Step 3: After entering information in the relevant search field/s click out of the entered field to enable the database to calculate the number of result hits.   Click the results list button to display a list of results.  Results list may be arranged in alphabetical, chronological or numerical order by clicking on column headings.

 

Step 4: Record the details of the correct or possible index entries.  A copy of the list of results may be printed from the public printer.  Copies cost 65¢ per page which is payable at the Copying Desk located in the  North Melbourne Reading Room or at the Reception Desk in the Ballarat Archives Centre.

 

Step 5: Birth, death and marriage certificates can be purchased from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages at www.bdm.vic.gov.au.

Viewing and Printing Marine Births, Deaths and Marriages Certificates

Step 1: Search the Marine Births, Deaths and Marriages Index in a similar way as other Births, Deaths and Marriages Indexes.  The most significant difference with the Marine Index is that an image of the original birth, death or marriage certificate is attached to index entries.  Occasionally, additional documentation is attached to a death entry relating to the deceased person.

 

Step 2: To open a digital image of an original birth, death or marriage certificate, click the image button to the left of a results list entry. An image will be enlarged by either choosing ‘full screen’ or ‘zoom’ from the drop-down ‘view‘ menu.  Alternatively, a moveable magnifying glass, to examine a certificate in detail, will be activated by pressing the magnify button.

 

Step 3: Marine birth, death and marriage certificates may be copied from the public printer.  Certificates are best printed in landscape to ensure that a complete copy is produced.  To print in landscape choose ‘properties’ then ‘basics’ from the drop-down ‘print’ menu.

 

Copies cost 65¢ per page which is payable at the copying desk located at the Victorian Archives Centre Reading Room or at the reception desk in the Ballarat Archives Centre.