This index of 23,899 (originally produced in microfiche form, but now put on CD-ROM), has been compiled from surviving registers of applications for free Railway Passes. The volume were transferred from the Chief Secretary's Department to the Mitchell Library on 1 June 1934 and they are now at State Records NSW.
These passes were generally issued to those immigrants who came to the Colony ('Colony' being New South Wales) seeking employment in country or outer metropolitan areas; although many were issues to men, women and children for charitable reasons.
The date ranges of the registers is not indicative of how the applicants were in the Colony, with some being in the Colony for a few days or weeks, while others were in the Colony for years (some many). Most entries note the applicant's native place, age, married or single and how long in the Colony and include a great amount of other detail with the majority of the records. The passes were also available to those who were native to the Colony or other Australian States.
The whole CD can be searched, and pages can be enlarged and printed if required.
