Births, deaths and marriages – Fact sheet 89
The registration of births, deaths and marriages in Australia was initially the responsibility of the colonies and later, the states and territories. Inquiries about births, deaths and marriages within Australia should, in most cases, be directed to the registrar in the state or territory in which the event took place. The table that follows indicates where registers for the Australian states and territories are held.
Contact the institutions of interest or visit their website to get details of services offered and the charges that apply for the purchase of certificates.
Contact addresses for Australian births, deaths and marriages
Australian Capital Territory
ACT Births, Deaths and Marriages
GPO Box 158
Canberra City ACT 2601
Registrations for the Australian Capital Territory before 1930 are held by the New South Wales registry.
New South Wales
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
GPO Box 30
Sydney NSW 2001
Holds registrations for Australian Capital Territory before 1930. Also holds incomplete information about deaths on war service of New South Wales enlistments to the Boer War (1899–1901).
Northern Territory
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
GPO Box 3021
Darwin NT 0801
Holds information about deaths on war service for Northern Territory enlistments to World War II (1939–45).
Queensland
Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 15188
City East QLD 4002
Holds information about deaths on war service for Queensland enlistments to World War I (1914–18) and World War II (1939–45).
South Australia
Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Office
GPO Box 1351
Adelaide SA 5001
Holds information about deaths on war service for South Australian enlistments to World War I (1914–18) and World War II (1939–45).
Tasmania
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
GPO Box 198
Hobart TAS 7001
Holds information about deaths on war service for Tasmanian enlistments to World War I (1914–18), World War II (1939–45) and the Korean War (1950–53).
Registrations for the period before 1900 are held by the Archives Office of Tasmania.
Victoria
Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 4332
Melbourne VIC 3001
Western Australia
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 7720
Cloisters Square
Perth WA 6850
Deaths on war service
Deaths on war service are registered by the relevant arm of the Australian Defence Force. To obtain copies of death certificates, write to:
Army
Soldier Career Management Agency
GPO Box 393D
Melbourne VIC 3001
Air Force
Family Liaison Officer
Directorate of Coordination Air Force
Department of Defence
Russell Offices
Canberra ACT 2600
Navy
Directorate of Naval Personnel Services
Department of Defence
Canberra ACT 2601
Australian citizens overseas
Registrations for Australian citizens lodged overseas at Australian Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates-General, Consulates, or other Australian or United Kingdom missions are controlled by the Department of Home Affairs. These include the registration of children born overseas to Australian citizens.
Requests for information about births, deaths and marriages registered at Australian overseas posts should be directed to:
Department of Home Affairs
PO Box 25
Belconnen ACT 2616
Tel: (02) 6264 1111
Australian citizens or residents born overseas
Records of births and marriages which took place before a person migrated to Australia are not maintained by the Australian Government. Where the person has been naturalised such details will usually be found on the application for naturalisation.
Other nationalities
For information on persons of a nationality other than Australian, please contact the registrar in the appropriate overseas country or their representative in Australia.
