Fact sheet 184 – Passenger records held in Hobart

Passenger records provide a valuable source of information for family historians. The Archives office in Hobart holds inward and outward passenger lists for the port of Hobart and some lists, cards and related registers for Tasmanian ports of Burnie, Devonport and Launceston. These records are usually arranged by the date, name of the ship, and the port of arrival or departure. Unless you know these details your search may be very time-consuming.

Passenger, crew and ship records for Tasmanian ports

Hobart
SeriesPassenger and crew lists (inward)1903–51P2005 
SeriesPassenger and crew lists (outward)1903–51 (with gaps)P2004 
Burnie

Other passenger lists

We also hold microfilm copies of the following passenger lists.

Queensland
SeriesBowen – Ships lists inwardsJan 1897–Dec 1962J723 
SeriesBrisbane – Ships lists inwardsAug 1852–Dec 1964J715 
SeriesBrisbane – Ships lists outwardsJan 1859–Dec 1964J716 
SeriesBundaberg – Ships lists inwardsFeb 1948–June 1950J733 
SeriesCairns – Ships lists inwards1897–Oct 1964J725 
SeriesGladstone – Ships lists inwardsApr 1924–Sep 1964J717 
SeriesMackay – Ships lists inwardsOct 1924–Oct 1962J729 
SeriesMaryborough – Ships lists inwardsApr 1929–Mar 1950J731 
SeriesRockhampton – Ships lists inwards1898–Oct 1962J727 
SeriesThursday Island – Ships lists inwardsApr 1924–Jan 1964J719 
SeriesTownsville – Ships lists inwardsJan 1895–Dec 1964J721 
Victoria
SeriesMelbourne – Ships lists inwardApr 1924–Dec 1964B4397 

Sources in other offices of the National Archives

Other offices of the Archives, located in each capital city, also hold collections of passenger lists as both originals and copies on microfilm. Contact the office closest to you to inquire about its holdings. See Fact Sheet 1– Addresses and hours of opening.

Further information on passenger lists held by Offices of the Archives is available in:

Earlier passenger records for Tasmanian ports

The Archives Office of Tasmania holds passenger records for the port of Hobart for the years earlier than 1903, though no similar records are held for the ports of Burnie, Devonport or Launceston. See Fact Sheet 2 – Addresses of other Australian archival institutions for details.

For more information

You can obtain more information about the record series listed above (and the items within the series) from RecordSearch, the Archives database. Follow the links in the series lists to go directly to information on that series. You can also use RecordSearch to find out about the agencies that created the records and to locate more records on your subject. You might also explore PhotoSearch to find out if there are photos pertaining to your subject.

RecordSearch and PhotoSearch are available online and in all Archives reading rooms. Reference staff are available in the reading rooms to help you, or email ref@naa.gov.au.

Further information about records relating to Tasmania's maritime past is provided in Fact Sheet 37 – Maritime records held in Hobart.

You will find more information for family historians on our website.

updated January 2009