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Marriage records in Australia are deceptively complex. The country's vast expanse and decentralised history of record-keeping mean that marriage records may be held by federal, state, or even church authorities. Civil registration of marriages was introduced in the middle of the nineteenth century, but it wasn't compulsory until 1856, and even then, some events in remote and rural areas went unregistered. Before 1856, marriage records were kept by churches in what are known as 'parish registers' or 'early church records'. These records continued to be maintained by churches even after civil registration was introduced. To find marriage records in Australia, you can search by name, place, and date in the BDM (birth, death, marriage) indexes, although you may need to prove your relationship to the person named on the certificate. Records may be held by the federal government, state governments, or churches, depending on the time period and location.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of compulsory civil registration | Mid-19th century (1856 in New South Wales) |
| Records before civil registration | Church registers (baptisms, marriages, burials) |
| Records after civil registration | Government registries and church registers |
| Record availability | Depends on the rules of each BDM authority and the state/territory |
| Record accessibility | Indexed and searchable by name, place, and date; available online and in state libraries |
| Record coverage | Australia, including the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales (NSW), Northern Territory, and South Australia |
| Record details | Marriage registration number, given names and surnames of both parties, and the date of marriage |
| Additional information | Divorce records are available from 1873 onwards in New South Wales |
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What You'll Learn
Civil registration of marriages
Civil registration was carried out independently of churches by government employees. Today, the offices that manage these records are generally titled "Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages" or something similar. These registries maintain records of all births, deaths, marriages, stillbirths, adoptions, legitimations, and instruments of paternity within their respective states or territories.
In Australia, marriage is regulated under federal law, but the registration of marriages occurs in the state or territory where the marriage took place. The celebrant issues a certificate at the time of marriage, which is then forwarded to the relevant state or territory registry. A similar document is often given to the couple on their wedding day, but it is generally handwritten and not considered an official document. Marriage certificates are issued by the registry and need to be applied for separately, usually for a fee.
Each state and territory in Australia has its own rules about the availability of its records to the public and when permission from the person named in the certificate or proof of a relationship to them is required. To find marriage records, you can search for different BDM (births, deaths, and marriages) websites by typing in something like 'BDM NSW' or 'Vic BDM'. These websites will provide contact details and information on how to apply for certificates.
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Parish registers
The information recorded in parish registers can vary depending on the religion and denomination. Most church registers for the Anglican, Catholic, and Presbyterian denominations are relatively standardised, while other denominations' records were initially kept by itinerant ministers not based on specific parishes. The Society of Australian Genealogists (SAG) has microfilmed many registers, and copies are available at the Mitchell Library in Sydney.
To access parish registers, it is helpful to know the religion and the town or suburb where the individual lived. Larger towns may have multiple parishes. The FamilySearch Library has a book titled "Parish Registers in Australia" that lists all known originals, transcripts, microforms, and indexes of Australian parish registers. Additionally, the FamilySearch website provides information on non-Christian religious records in Australia.
It is worth noting that some life events may not have been registered, especially in remote and rural areas. Additionally, there may be errors or omissions in the registers, and not all churches submitted their pre-1853 registers to the Registrar as required. Therefore, it is recommended to check both civil registration indexes and church records to ensure a thorough search.
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Marriage records in the Australian Capital Territory
Marriage records in Australia, also known as vital records, are registered and held by each of the country's six states and two federal territories. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was previously known as the Federal Capital Territory.
For marriages in the Canberra region before 1930, use the indexes of New South Wales (NSW). Registrations may be recorded under the Districts of Queanbeyan or Yass. The ACT Historic Marriage Index (1930-1941) includes the marriage registration number, the given names and surnames of both parties, and the date of marriage.
The NSW civil registration system included the Federal Capital Territory/Australian Capital Territory. Civil registration of births, deaths, and marriages in the Colony of NSW commenced in 1856. Before this, baptisms, marriages, and burials were recorded in church registers.
The National Library of Australia (NLA) provides a comprehensive guide to BDM records available from all Australian jurisdictions. The NLA also provides access to Findmypast (World Edition) through eResources. To use Findmypast, you need to visit the Library in person.
Each state and territory in Australia has a registry of births, deaths, and marriages. You can apply to the registry for official copies of certificates via their websites. Certificates are costly to purchase, and there are rules about the availability of records to the public. An alternative to official BDM certificates in Australia is to use a licensed commercial transcription service to obtain a copy of the desired certificate. These transcripts contain the same information as the official certificate and are usually quicker and cheaper.
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Marriage records in the Northern Territory
Marriage records are a great way to start researching your family history. They can provide a wealth of information beyond dates and places of marriage, such as addresses, names of witnesses, maiden names, ages, occupations, and religions.
In Australia, civil registration of births, deaths, and marriages was introduced in the middle of the nineteenth century, with New South Wales commencing in 1856. However, it is important to note that the Northern Territory was administered by New South Wales until 1863 and by South Australia from 1863 to 1870. This means that civil registration records for the Northern Territory during these periods can be found in New South Wales and South Australian records, respectively.
The Northern Territory Registry maintains birth, death, marriage, relationship, and change of name records. They issue certificates and provide information to approved applicants. To obtain a copy of a marriage certificate or access marriage records in the Northern Territory, you can contact the relevant state or territory birth, death, and marriage registry office, which in this case would be the Northern Territory Registry. You can also visit their website to apply for official copies of certificates.
If you are unable to find a record in the main BDM index, you can try searching district registers, which are usually held in state libraries. Additionally, historical indices for births, deaths, and marriages in the Northern Territory can be accessed through resources such as microfilm in the Library's Newspapers and Family History Zone.
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Applying for official copies of marriage certificates
Each Australian state and territory has a registry of births, deaths, and marriages. You can apply to the registry for official copies of marriage certificates via their websites. The cost of purchasing certificates tends to be high. Transcription services, which provide the same information as certificates, are usually cheaper and quicker, but they cannot be used for legal purposes. Ask the BDM registry if there are any transcription services in your state.
Before applying for official copies of marriage certificates, you can search for BDM certificates by name, place, and date. Anyone can use the BDM indexes where they are available. You can do online name searches of historical BDMs for the states listed on the AIATSIS website.
If you are unable to find a record in the main BDM index, you can also try a search of the district registers for the place you believe your ancestor was married. These are usually held in state libraries.
In the Colony of New South Wales, civil registration of births, deaths, and marriages began in 1856. Prior to this date, baptisms, marriages, and burials were recorded in church registers. The New South Wales civil registration system also included the following areas when under New South Wales administration: Federal Capital Territory/Australian Capital Territory (between 1 January 1911 and 29 July 1938) and the Northern Territory (until 1863). For births, deaths, and marriages in the Canberra region before 1930, use the indexes of NSW. Registrations of these events in the Canberra region may be recorded under the Districts of Queanbeyan or Yass.
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Frequently asked questions
Each state and territory in Australia has a registry of births, deaths and marriages. You can apply to the registry for official copies of certificates via their websites.
You can search for marriage records by name, place and date.
BDM stands for births, deaths and marriages. BDM records can be used to form a chain linking one generation of your family to the next.
There are two main types of BDM records: civil registrations (government records) and parish registers (church records).
Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages in the Colony of New South Wales commenced in 1856. The New South Wales civil registration system also included the Australian Capital Territory when it was known as the Federal Capital Territory.
