Searching for passengers
These database indexes provide access to microform copies of
passenger lists held at PROV reading rooms. For more information about
passenger lists refer to the 'selected passenger list series' section of this
PROVguide.
Step 1: Using the database index search window
·
Launch the PROV website: www.prov.vic.gov.au
and click on Access the Collection.
·
Click on the link to: PROV's digitised records
and online indexes.
·
Scroll down to Passenger Lists and click on the required
index. The screen shot below shows the search fields for the Unassisted Inward
Passenger Lists database index. Assisted and Outward Passenger lists have
similar search fields.
·
Enter text to search for in one or more of the fields below, and click
on Search.
In this example the family name of the passenger being searched for is
"Catani". To broaden the search an asterisk (*, also known as a
wildcard) has been used.
Hint: Using the asterisk
in this search finds family names beginning with the letters typed in before
the asterisk. This is especially useful for picking up spelling
variations of names and ships.
Hint: The example below also demonstrates how the
search can be narrowed by selecting a date range by using the year
fields. In this case, the search will find voyages made between 1870 and 1890,
instead of the entire range of the database (1852 - 1923).
·
Click on Additional Help at the
bottom of the search window screen to see examples of different types of searches.
Step 2: Search results
·
The search results screen displays summary details from each passenger
list entry found, as in the example below, and a reference to the microfiche or
microfilm copy of the list on which the entry can be found.
·
For the unassisted lists the Port code (B = British: red
microfiche, F = Foreign: white microfiche, or N = New Zealand: green microfiche)
indicates the port of departure and therefore which series of microfiche to
look at:
·
If a large number of results is returned eg. 500 you can narrow
the search by returning to the search window and adding information such as a
date range.
·
Please note: the age recorded on a list may not have been the
passenger's actual age.
·
A search result may contain entries of Mr, Mrs, Miss or child.
This means that a first name was not recorded when the original list was created.
Step 3: Finding a passenger on the microfiche and microfilm passenger lists
·
When you have located entries for relevant individuals in a
search result, make a note of the following details:
Unassisted passengers: person's name, port, ship
name, fiche number and page number.
Assisted passengers: person's name, ship name, book
number and page number.
Outward passengers: person's name, ship name, year
and month.
·
Microfiche are numbered and are located on microfiche stands at PROV
reading rooms. The microfilms are numbered sequentially by reel number and are
stored in microfilm cabinet drawers at PROV reading rooms. See PROV's
guides to Microfilm,
Microfiche and Online Resources at the Victorian Archives Centre, and Microfilm,
Microfiche and Online Resources at the Ballarat Archives Centre for
information about the location of the passenger lists in PROV reading rooms.
·
Once you locate the microfiche or microfilm it can be viewed and
printed from a reader printer.
·
When viewing the film or fiche, firstly find the name of the ship
given on your search result. This name is usually found towards the top of the
first page of every passenger list.
·
For assisted passengers find the microfiche with the book and page
number from your search result.
Step 4: Printing your list
Example record
An
excerpt from the Alhambra's passenger list showing Catani.
PROV, VPRS 947/P0,
Unit 86, New Zealand, Alhambra, September 1876
Once you have found the passenger list you can print out
copies.
·
The reader printers have instructions next to them for loading
and printing microfiche and microfilm, and a troubleshooting guide for quick
reference.
·
Copies can be made in both A4 and A3 size.
·
If you have difficulty using the reader printers please ask reading
room staff for assistance.
·
Copies cost 95 cents per page, and are paid for at the copying desk
at the Victorian Archives Centre and the enquiries desk at the Ballarat
Archives Centre.
Selected passenger list series held by PROV
Click on the links below for detailed information about the
passenger list series:
VPRS 7666
Microfiche copy of Inward Overseas
Passenger Lists (British Ports)
VPRS 7667 Microfiche copy of Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (Foreign Ports)
VPRS 13439 Microfiche copy of Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (New Zealand Ports)
These series contain the lists of vessels and their
unassisted passengers arriving in Victoria from overseas ports. The lists
record information about the ship, details of each passenger and a summary of
the passengers carried. The amount of information given for each passenger
varied over time. Marital status, age and gender were usually recorded, and
nationality and occupation were frequently included.
VPRS 3502 Microfiche
copy of Register of Assisted Immigrants
from United Kingdom 1839 – 1871
The register contains the nominal and disposal lists of
assisted immigrants arriving in Victoria from the UK. The nominal list usually
gives details of each immigrant's name, age, occupation, religion, native
place, and whether he or she could read or write. The disposal list details
what happened to the assisted immigrant after arrival: for example, the name
and address of the migrant's new employer, how long the migrant was contracted to
work for them, their wages, whether this included rations, and the date the
migrant left the depot.
VPRS 3506 Microfilm
copy of Outward Passenger Lists to Interstate, U.K. And Foreign Ports 1852 – 1923
These lists were created by the Department of Trade and
Customs for the purpose of recording passengers leaving Victorian ports for
interstate or overseas destinations.
Further information
For further information about passenger lists and immigration
records held by PROV see:
PROVguide
52 Immigration Records
PROVguide
53 British Post World War II Immigration
PROV holds further records related to immigration and
shipping on microfiche and microfilm. These records are available in PROV
reading rooms and do not have to be ordered. See PROV's guides to Microfilm,
Microfiche and Online Resources at the Victorian Archives Centre, and Microfilm,
Microfiche and Online Resources at the Ballarat Archives Centre.
Marine Births, Deaths and Marriages Index 1853 - 1920
The Marine Index provides summary information about births,
deaths and marriages registered by ships' captains from 1853 to 1920 and
submitted to the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The Index
is available at PROV reading rooms and at genealogical collections around
Australia.
Passenger list availability around Australia
Microfiche copies of unassisted (1852-1923) and assisted
(1839-1871) inward passenger lists are also available at libraries and
genealogical centres around Australia.
Search agents
PROV is unable to provide copies of records or undertake
research in response to phone or written requests. If you are unable to visit a PROV reading room to
view records or make copies, you can employ a search agent to undertake this on
your behalf. For details of search agents please consult PROVguide 15 Search
Agents.
Passenger lists after 1923
Passenger lists for immigration to Victoria after 1923 are
held by National Archives of Australia.
National Archives of Australia are also located in the Victorian Archives Centre
reading room and their microfilm passenger lists are accessible in the microfilm
area.