Government Gazettes in general contain a vast amount of historical and
genealogical information. However they are largely an untapped resource. The few
complete runs that are available are usually only found in major archives or
libraries. And even for researchers who do have access to these the sheer size
and extent of the Gazettes is daunting.
Now that is all changing - with the publication of the gazettes on affordable
and searchable form on CD-ROM. Tens of thousands of ordinary people and
localities, small and large, are mentioned EVERY YEAR in Government Gazettes.
But they offer researchers much more than simply names and places. They will
help you reconstruct events and circumstances in the life of individuals and
communities.
Information such as the following can often be found in most Gazettes: land
sales, government appointments, lost stock, unclaimed letters, police reports,
desertions, insolvency notices, permits, licences and certificates (appraisers',
auctioneers, depasturing, pawnbrokers, publicans, storekeepers and timber), persons authorised to issue marriage licences
... and the list could go on and on.
Example entry taken from the 21 July 1859 issue: [note, only a few
names have been extracted here]
Return of Women receiving relief on the 30th June, 1859, whose husbands had
deserted them or were confined in Gaol
| Name |
Ship |
No. of children |
Residence |
Period of husband's absence |
| Allsworth, Margaret |
Magdalena |
2 |
Ackland-street |
Fifteen months (private in 12th regt.) |
| Allender, Mrs |
-- |
4 |
Port Adelaide |
-- |
| Brooke, Sarah |
Hamlet |
4 |
Moore-street |
Eight months |
| Broadman, Ann |
Northern Light |
2 |
Strathalbyn |
Three months |
| Chaplin, Margaret |
Lysander |
2 |
Solomon-street |
Two and a-half years |
| Corbett, Elizabeth |
Duvergne |
2 |
Queen-street |
Six months (in goal for six years) |
| McKenzie, Mrs |
Queen of the Sea |
5 |
Bentham-street |
Six and a-quarter years |
The whole of the gazette (which totals over 1200 pages) is searchable. Search
for any word in the text - names, places and more. This valuable resource is now
available in an easy-to-use and affordable format.
