Genealogy Chat

A 2nd cousin moved to Australia about 1980 her name is Joan I BREWSTER (nee DUNCAN) and her husband Ivor T BREWSTER. Unforunately I do not know to which State they moved with their three children. I have searched an online Telephone directory without success and now wonder whether there may be an electoral roll ? Alternate idea is that the three daughters will by now be of marriageable age and question whether A or All marriages can be found ? If this is a question of cost please advise me. Thanks. Excuse Caps. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR HELP IN FINDING MY LONG-LOST COUSIN. I HAVE NOW BEEN CONTACTED BY THE DAUGHTER SO SAVING FOR MORE XMAS CARDS THIS DECEMBER ! THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.

Joe this is probably best answered by an Australian but most sensible ones will be in bed now so it needs to be bumped up again throughout the day (can never remember are they behind or ahead of us?) anyway, it should catch someone at some point!

nudge for Joe

another nudge for Joe

Thankyou snowdrop Aussies are about from around 11 p m

As I understand it the electoral rolls were destroyed under confidentiality laws once the relevant information had been gleaned, however perhaps someone on the Wattlers thread, General Board may have another way to help you

Hi Joe, have sent you a pm with some results for you to have a look through. Get in touch with me if you would like any more help It was the census that was destroyed - we still have electoral rolls available to look up - but the info I have sent is just listed phone records. cheers Laurie

Yes I am aware of the censuses being destroyed as they are only used fior statistical purposes.

..... except the one we did last week Joe. This time they have asked if they can keep it to be available in 99 years!!! I, of course, said YES!! All the lobbying by the genealogists paid off. Victoria

Electoral rolls are available - but not online, only on fiche at the main libraries. Also they are organised by state so you need to have an idea of the state that your rellies might be living in (or be prepared to look in each one - 6 states & 2 territories). The earlier ones are arranged by electoral divisions, but from about 1981 (I think) they are arranged alphabetically by surname. If the name that you're searching is too common, then you could have difficulty in determining which ones are your rellies, as there is no identifying information other than name and address (the earlier ones listed occupation as well). There are other resources, such as old telephone books and postal directories. Again these are not available online. Also you could try the newspapers in each state - most of them have a ''trying to find'' section, where you can place an ad. Richard

Obviously your government is not appreciating the $$$$ they could earn by putting all these things online ! Ours found out very quickly that this 'hobby' is a real earner ! Thank you all for your help, now I will have to try and work out a plan of campaign - though the name Brewster is not so common here - so I guess same will apply there too. Finally, may I ask if marriage registers are also closed books and that apart from knowing the State I would also need to know the city/town etc ??

Hi again Joe You won't find any index to the more recent marriages due to the stricter privacy laws that we have here. For marriages, the records are closed for at least 50 years, and up to 75 years (depending on the state). A guide to what's available (and also what info was recorded on the certs) is here: http://www.jaunay*com/bdm.html Cheers Richard

Hi Joe, the new south wales state library can help you. I have just rang them for you. If you log onto www(.)sl(.)nsw(.)gov(.)au and slect services then 'ask a librarian'. Fill out the form with as much detail as possible, make sure you tell them you need all of australia and why. Select inform by mail and they will send you copies of the micro film. The librarian said they can check back to 1990 without knowing a town of residence,. You can also phone them on 02 9273 1414 and add the aus dial before number. You can also contact the RTA (raods and traffic authority) and fill in a 'freedom of information form', they will search their data base to see if the person has ever owned a drivers license, if so they will contact them and ask if they can pass on the persons details to you, if the person has passed away they will contact their next of kin. The same process is for both, if the person says yes or if the person does not answer the rats request you will receive they address and contact number, if they say no the rta won't. The service costs $30.00 au. Good Luck, Louisa

Thank you ALL for your assistance. First time I have asked for help on this site - I am usually the other end of the messages - and I am truly surprised at the response. Once again, thank you all and I only hope that something comes of the enquiries I, and others, will be making. I think, at this point, this thread can be taken as CLOSED. Joe.