All our libraries are closed over the entire Easter break.

Some of our services are closed or have different hours over Easter, from Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April.

Our local and family history collection

Local and family history is a fascinating and rewarding activity. Get free access to a range of specialist and unique history resources with your library membership. 

Not a library member? 

Join the library

Please note: some resources are only available when using a library computer or when logged in to library Wi-Fi.

Ancestry

Ancestry is the world’s largest online family history resource, providing access to more than 200 billion images and 7,000 unique databases. 

Log in for free at Ancestry Library Edition website using a library computer or while connected to the library Wi-Fi on your laptop or mobile device.

This is for use in the library only.

Findmypast

Findmypast is a subscription-based, family history database that has unique Australian records and partnerships with the British Library and the UK National Archives. 

Log in for free at the Findmypast website using a library computer or while connected to the library Wi-Fi on your laptop or mobile device.

This is for use in the library only.

The British Newspaper Archive

The British Library's collection of digitised, historical newspapers from Britain, Ireland and beyond spans the 1600s to the present day.

Log in for free at The British Newspaper Archive website using a library computer or while connected to the library Wi-Fi on your laptop or mobile device.

First-time users must sign up for a free account.

This is for use in the library only.

Local and family history research guides

Whether you’re researching your family's origins, where they lived or who might have previously lived in your house, visit these pages for research tips and recommended reading:

Photographs

We have an amazing collection of thousands of historical photographs. Some images are printed while other are available digitally.

Our collection includes photographs of people, events in Boroondara, buildings, streetscapes and the natural environment from the mid 1800s to the present day.

Search our photograph collection

Hint: use the ‘refine’ button to narrow the search results and enter a keyword in the 'anywhere' field or narrow the 'collection' field to local history.

Order a copy or request permission to use a photograph

Although the photographs in our collection are free to view, many are under copyright and cannot be reproduced without permission.

Select the button below to order a copy of a photo, or to request permission to use or publish a photo.

Order or reproduce a photograph

Donate a photograph

We are always keen to add treasures to our photograph collection.

You can donate copies of printed or digital photos of people and places in Boroondara. These will become part of our collection and help contribute to a wider understanding of the area's history.

To donate a photo, call (03) 9278 4666 or email [email protected].

Request access to rare or fragile items

Some local history material is rare and fragile, and if it's lost or damaged it's irreplaceable. You'll need permission from our Local and Family History Librarian to view this material.

Request access to restricted local history items in person at one of our libraries or select the button below to fill out an online form. We'll respond to you within a week.

Request access to a restricted local history item

Ask a librarian

Our staff can advise you on how to:

  • access family or local history records and resources online
  • find local history information
  • make sense of a tangled family tree.

Contact us using our Ask a Librarian form.


Was this page helpful?