12. Records in the National Archives State Offices

While some individual records held in the National Archives state offices are included in the preceding chapters, most are included here, since they vary considerably in type from those held in Canberra.

Collections in the state offices relate less to the encouragement of immigration than to the implementation of the restrictive immigration policies, and individual passenger lists of ships arriving at and departing from the various state ports. The holdings of the Melbourne Office are in some ways an exception to this, as they also contain policy records which date from the time when many Commonwealth Government departments had their head offices in Melbourne.

This chapter provides an introduction to the main types of immigration records held in each of the state offices. It is divided into the following sections:

1. Passenger arrival and departure records
2. Lists of ship’s crew
3. Records of non-British migrants
4. Passport and identity records
5. Aliens Registration records
6. Correspondence records
7. Miscellaneous records related to immigration

1. Passenger arrival and departure records

Records of passenger arrivals and departures are held for most Australian ports. Some have been microfilmed, with copies available in all reading rooms. Those not on microfilm will need to be viewed in the office in which they are held.

The collection of passenger lists held by the National Archives generally complements those for the same ports (usually for earlier periods) held by respective state archival institutions.

Title or description of records	Date		Series No.
Sydney
Crew and passenger lists, port of Newcastle, inwards and outwards	1865–1935		C667
Outward registers (coloured crews and passengers), ports of Sydney and Newcastle	1905–37		SP143/3
Inwards crew and passenger lists for Australian ports	1915–23		SP83/11
Passenger lists, inwards ships, Sydney	1923–64		C1115
Passenger Manifests – outward ships and aircraft	1923–64		SP1148/2
Register of inward passenger lists, Sydney, Port Kembla, Newcastle	1924–39		SP729/12
Register of passenger lists – outward – overseas ships	1924–39		SP729/17
Aircraft Passenger lists, inwards, Mascot and Rose Bay	1936–64		C3458
Boarding Officers’ reports on vessels and aircraft arriving Sydney	1936–58		ST875/2
Advice of departure from Sydney of coloured persons – inwards and outwards	1937–54		SP343/1
Melbourne
Outward passenger lists – Ships	1894–1924		B4398
Ships files relating to the assisted passage scheme	1921–37		B4094
Lists of outgoing passengers (ships)	1922–24		MP127/2
Registers of passenger lists – Overseas ships – Outwards	1924–54		MP128/3 MP128/4
Outward passenger lists	1924–44		MP56/9
Outward passenger lists	1924–44		B4399
Volumes of Inwards passenger lists	1924–64		B4397
Volumes of outward passenger lists – ships,	1945–64		B4400
Name index cards for volumes of inward passenger lists – ships	1962		B4425
Passenger manifests – Melbourne	1965–66		MP905/1
Brisbane
Ships passenger lists, Brisbane inwards	1852–1964		J715
Ships passenger lists, Brisbane outwards	1859–1964		J716
Ships passenger lists, Townsville inwards	1895–1964		J721
Ships passenger lists, Townsville outwards	1895–1964		J722
Ships passenger lists, Bowen inwards	1897–1964		J723
Ships passenger lists, Bowen outwards	1897–1964		J724
Ships passenger lists, Cairns inwards	1897–1969		J725
Ships passenger lists, Cairns outwards	1897–1964		J726
Ships passenger lists, Rockhampton inwards	1898–1962		J727
Ships passenger lists, Rockhampton outwards	1898–1964		J728
Report of passengers forms	1904–28		BP164/3
Register of inwards and outwards Asian passengers	1918–24		BP749/2
Ships passenger lists, Gladstone inwards	1924–64		J717
Ships passenger lists, Gladstone outwards	1924–64		J718
Ships passenger lists, Thursday Island inwards	1924–64		J719
Ships passenger lists, Thursday Island outwards	1924–64		J720
Ships passenger lists, Mackay inwards	1924–62		J729
Ships passenger lists, Mackay outwards	1924–61		J730
Register of passenger lists outwards	1924–49		BP159/28
Register of passenger lists inwards	1924–47		BP159/29
Register of ships passenger lists inwards – Cairns	1924–52		BP273/3
Register of ships passenger lists outwards – Cairns	1924–52		BP273/4
Arrivals register – coloured persons	1924–59		BP384/10
Departures register – coloured persons	1924–59		BP384/11
Ships passenger lists, Maryborough inwards	1929–62		J731
Ships passenger lists, Maryborough outwards	1929–62		J732
Quarantine reports of passengers	1930–54		BT531/1
Aircraft passenger manifests	1934–ongoing		J922
Perth
Outward passenger manifests for ships and aircraft departing at Fremantle, Perth Airport and Outports	1898–1978		K1142
Inward passenger manifests for ships and aircraft arriving at Fremantle, Perth Airport and Outports	1898–1978		K269
Passenger inward and outward list indexes	1898–1923		PP281/7
Inward passenger lists, outports	1904–23		PP281/3
Inward passenger/migrant nominal rolls	1918–32		PP444/4
Outward passenger lists, outports	1921–22		PP281/4
Inward passenger lists, outports	1923–35		PP240/3
Registers of passenger lists – Geraldton	1924–52		PP51/1
Registers of passenger lists – Fremantle and Carnarvon	1924–38		PP109/2
Outward passenger lists, outports	1924–38		PP240/4
Nominal rolls and passenger lists	1926–51		PP482/1
Adelaide
Monthly immigration returns (includes passenger lists)	1919–46		D1986
Register of passenger lists (inwards), seamen engaged, discharged, deserted or died at Port Pirie	1925–48		D458
Ships passenger lists, inwards	1941–64		D5077
Ships passenger lists, outwards	1941–64		AP473/1
Hobart
Registers of ships arriving at Launceston	1869–1910		P588
Passenger lists and crew lists (outward) – Port of Hobart	1903–51		P2004
Passenger lists and crew lists (inward) – Port of Hobart	1903–51		P2005
Register of passenger lists for overseas departing from Tasmanian ports	1924–63		P1074
Register of passenger lists for interstate ships arriving at Devonport	1924–58		P1202
Register of ships arriving at Devonport	1927–50		P1240
Register of ships leaving Launceston	1930–61		P1075
Passenger lists, inwards/outwards, Burnie	1939–ongoing		P2031
Darwin
Registers of census returns collected by police in Northern Territory Volume 1 includes registers of passenger arrivals to Darwin (1872) and departures from Darwin (1873–1875)	1881–1953		F108
Inwards and outwards passenger lists, Darwin	1898–1949		E1019

2. Lists of ships’ crew

 Ships docking at Australian ports were required to lodge a list of their crew with local customs authorities. It was not unusual for crew lists to be deposited with passenger lists. The series listed below as ‘passenger lists’ have lists of ships’ crew included with them.

Title or description of records	Date		Series No.
Sydney
Crew and passenger lists, port of Newcastle, inwards and outwards	1865–1935		C667
Outward registers (coloured crews and passengers), ports of Sydney and Newcastle	1905–37		SP143/3
Inwards crew and passenger lists for Australian ports	1915–23		SP83/11
Crew lists	1925–32		SP290/3
Crew lists, arrivals at Sydney	1933–63		SP959/1
Crew lists Newcastle	1936–62		ST2464/4
Melbourne
Crew lists, Melbourne	1902–54		MP171/1
Crew lists, Geelong	1927–59		MP689/2
Seamen’s register cards	1922–26		MP978/2
Seamen’s (native) register cards	1926–67		MP978/3
Seamen’s register cards	1927–66		MP978/1
Brisbane
Ships passenger lists, Brisbane inwards	1852–1964		J715
Ships passenger lists, Brisbane outwards	1859–1964		J716
Ships passenger lists, Bowen inwards	1897–1964		J723
Ships passenger lists, Bowen outwards	1897–1964		J724
Ships passenger lists, Cairns inwards	1897–1969		J725
Ships passenger lists, Cairns outwards	1897–1964		J726
Ships passenger lists, Rockhampton inwards	1898–1962		J727
Ships passenger lists, Rockhampton outwards	1898–1964		J728
Ships and vessel crew lists (Form M & S11)	1924		J943
Ships crew lists, Brisbane	1924–78		BP120/1
Ships crew lists, Cairns	1926–56		BP187/1
Perth
Crew lists (inward)	1897–1923		K271
Crew lists (outward)	1898–1910		K270
Crew lists of ships arriving at Albany	1905–52		PP42/1
Crew lists of ships entering Western Australian ports	1923–54		PP1/1
Adelaide
Crew lists	1907		D3064
Hobart
Passenger lists and crew lists (outward) – Port of Hobart	1903–51		P2004
Passenger lists and crew lists (inward) – Port of Hobart	1903–51		P2005
Darwin
Inwards and outwards passenger lists, Darwin	1898–1949		E1019

3. Records of non-British migrants

For the period 1901–39, one of the Commonwealth’s most active roles in immigration was in the regulation of non-British arrivals, particularly those of Asian origin.

Matters such as entry permits, certificates of domicile, certificates of exemption and the administration of the dictation test in each port of entry were under the control of the Collector of Customs in each state capital and the sub-Collector in Darwin. Examples of records held are listed below.

Title or description of records	Date		Series No.
Sydney
Applications for Certificates of Domicile	1875–1910		SP11/26
Certificates of Exemption from the Dictation test	1901–46		SP11/6
Register of Applications – Certificates of Exemption from Dictation tests	1902–59		SP726/1
Certificates of Domicile & Certificates of Exemption from the Dictation test	1905–53		ST84/1
Folders containing Certificates of exemption and related papers for passengers arriving in Australia by ship	1911–43		SP115/1
Exemption from Dictation Test (Form 32)	1911–23		SP115/2–9
Inward Registers Immigration Act. Persons admitted, persons who passed Dictation test, persons refused permission, prohibited migrants, persons en route ( Ports of Sydney & Newcastle)	1913–30		SP143/4
Statistical register of persons admitted under Immigration Act	1919–24		SP822/7
Prosecution register	1931–49		SP470/1
Permits to enter the Territory of New Guinea (Forms B & C)	1935–40		SP11/24
Register of renewals of visas	1937–50		SP1095/6
Asiatic arrivals index cards (war period)	1939–45		SP343/3
Application for registration – Chinese	1939		SP1732/4
Melbourne
Photograph of Lip Moon	1900–50		VA1984/397
Register of Certificates Exempting from Dictation Test (Departures)	1904–59		B6003
Files relating to Applications for Certificates of Exemption from Dictation Test	1910–48		MT19/4
Handprints and thumbprints of Asians arriving at Australian ports	1910–25		B5541
Posters relating to prohibited migrants	1913–31		MP412/1
Reports of Medical officers under Immigration (Restriction) Act (Forms Q63)	1921–47		B3194
Certificates of Exemption book butts	1932–46		MP56/13
Miscellaneous collection of immigration registers (including passports)	1935–55		MP478/1
Samples of records destroyed (includes receipt books and books of copies of passport clearances)	1939–41		MP56/20
Brisbane
Proclamations under the Chinese Immigration Act 1888	1897–1902		J2481
Registers of Chinese emigration permits	1898–1902		J1694
Certificates of Domicile issued under Immigration (Restriction) Act 1901	1902–06		J2482
Particulars of persons admitted without being asked to pass Education Test (Form 20)	1902–03		BP658/3
Register of Certificates of Domicile	1903–08		BP384/3
Particulars of coloured persons leaving the State of Queensland	1903		BP658/1
Particulars of coloured persons leaving the Port of Townsville	1903–06		BP658/2
Certificates exempting from Dictation Test issued under the Immigration (Restriction) Act 1901–05 and Regulations	1906–56		J2483
Register of Certificates Exemption from Dictation Test	1908–59		BP384/4
Alphabetical index to Register of Certificates Exempting from Dictation Test	1916–24		BP384/5
Register of arrival of non-Europeans	1923–45		BP384/17
Arrivals register – coloured persons arriving	1924–59		BP384/10
Departures register – coloured persons leaving	1923–59		BP384/11
Register of Certificates of Exemption	1926–59		BP384/7
Personal statements and declaration of aliens entering the State of Queensland	1927–47		BP9/3
Maternity allowance Certificate of Registration of Birth (Forms D), Mount Molloy	1929–44		BP876/5
Register of endorsements and visas	1930–73		BP634/1
Black Book for reference for applications for CEDT	1931–46		BP384/22
Register of re-entry permits	1931–45		BP384/12
Register of New Guinea permits	1931–41		BP384/13
Perth
Certificates of Exemption from Dictation Test	1901–55		K1145
Returns and documents relating to Asiatics	1902–22		PP281/6
Register of Certificates of Exemption from Dictation Test	1904–28		PP363/1
Pearling register, Onslow, Western Australia	1905–38		PP363/2
Lists of Immigrants	1905–13		PP444/3
Key to immigrants lists	1906–09		PP444/1
Immigrations returns (Forms 19 & 20)	1923–42		PP240/5
Applications for Certificates of Exemption from Dictation Test with supporting documents	1926–41		PP4/2
Re-entry permit book butts	1934–56		PP50/2
Certificate of Exemption book butts	1938–53		PP4/10
Adelaide
Register of Chinese Immigration	1882–1903		AP214/20
Certificate of Exemption (Form 2 ) book butts	1901–59		D398
Immigration (Restriction) Act Exemption Certificate Register	1902–57		D2860
Certificates Exempting from Dictation Test	1902–59		D5036
Immigration/Passport Index Cards	1921–25		D2246
Statements by alien passengers on entry to Australia	1923–48		D4880
Immigration Index cards	1926–47		D2248
Hobart
Immigration permit butts (Form 21) issued to foreign nationals at Launceston and Burnie outports	1908–18		P526
Registration papers for non-British migrants	1939–66		P1184
Darwin
Certificate exempting from Dictation Test	1907–41		E752
Lists of Certificates Exempting from Dictation Test	1916–37		E812
Certificate exempting from Dictation Test (2) Passenger lists	1933–41		E754
Correspondence files relating to Certificates of Exemption	1936–40		E755

4. Passport and identity records

Records included in this section relate either to those identity records, such as passports or travel documents, surrendered to customs officials by those arriving in Australia, or registers of identity records, such as birth certificates issued to aliens or their families. This list is indicative only, and should not be taken as comprehensive.

Title or description of records	Date		Series No.
Sydney
Register of Birth Certificates	1902–62		SP726/2
Registers of Passports collected on owners arrival in Sydney	1921–36		SP1095/1
Applications for travel documents	1922–44		SP11/23
Certificates of identity	1928–48		SP11/13
Register of Certificates of identity	1939–55		SP11/25
Melbourne
Passports main file	1912–16		M56/6
Lists of Passports collected	1927		M412/2
Copies of receipts for Passports	1927–40		MP56/18
Lists of Passports	1938–39		MT33/10
Surrendered Passports of miscellaneous nationalities	1930–40		B5728
Brisbane
Birth Certificate register – Chinese (Australian born)	1904–59		BP384/9
Aliens travel documents	1909–41		BP313/1
Register of documents of identity	1939–48		BP384/15
Perth
Alien Passports and travel documents	1925–45		PP9/4
Applications for Passports issued register	1929–63		PP363/3
Adelaide
Immigration/Passport Index Cards	1921–25		D2246
Travel Facilities (Passports/Permits) Index	1926–47		D2249
Hobart
Nil
Darwin
Nil

5. Aliens registration records

Alien registration was required in time of war. It was provided for under War Precautions Regulations during World War I, and under National Security Regulations during World War II. Many of those required to register, especially at the outbreak of World War II, had migrated to Australia during the earlier years of the century.

This list is indicative only, and should not be taken as comprehensive.

Title or description of records	Date		Series No.
Sydney
Papers of the NSW Police Department dealing with registration and contact with aliens	1916–21		SP11/16
Alien registration forms (Forms A1 and A2)	1939–47		C413
Forms of application for registration for aliens resident in Australia (Form RA2)	1939		SP1732/1
Index to aliens registered under National Security Regulations in NSW	1939–47		SP267/1 SP267/2
Aliens returns, New South Wales, at 9 December 1939	1939–40		SP11/25
Applications for registration of aliens	1930–62		SP605/10
Melbourne
Applications for registration of aliens	1939–47		MT33/1
Brisbane
Aliens register, Oakey, and register of foreign subjects and reservists reports at Oakey Police Station	1914–17		BP876/1
Alien registration papers	1939–66		BP25/1
Register of aliens, Mount Molloy	1939–47		BP876/3
Register of Notices of Change of abode for naturalized persons and aliens, Mount Molloy (Queensland)	1939-1947		BP876/4
Register of aliens, Oakey	1939–47		BP876/2
Alien registration documents	1939–64		D4878
Perth
Intelligence reports of internments, repatriations, affiliations and general investigations	1915–20		PP14/1
Reports and personal files	1914–20		PP14/2
Register of aliens maintained under war precautions (Aliens Registered) Regulations, 1916	1916–20		PP14/3
Subject and main index cards to Intelligence section general and staff files	1915–20		PP14/4
Investigations Branch correspondence files	1918–59		PP302/1
Adelaide
Register of aliens	1921–45		AP1097/4
Aliens registration documents	1939–64		D4878
Hobart
Nil
Darwin
Correspondence files relating to aliens	1939–40		E759
Correspondence files relating to registration of aliens	1939–46		E760

6. Correspondence records

Before the creation of a separate Department of Immigration following the end of World War II, matters relating to immigration that arose in the state capital cities were often handled by the Collectors of Customs. The records listed below identify some of the major series of correspondence records created by these agencies, and some of the indexes or registers that may be used to identify relevant records.

Title or description of records	Date		Series No.
Sydney
Correspondence of the Collector of Customs relating to immigration restriction and passports	1898–1948		SP42/1
Outward letter books, correspondence in connection with the Immigration (Restriction) Act	1904–08		A1026
Index books to correspondence in connection with the Immigration (Restriction) Act	1904–08		A1027
Correspondence relating to the issue of bonds re prohibited immigrants	1904–28		SP740/1
Correspondence (miscellaneous) of the Collector of Customs relating to immigration restriction and passports	1907–48		SP42/2
General correspondence of Collector of Customs with ‘N’ prefix	1915–67		SP1122/1
Index to C series correspondence	1920–45		SP220/1
General correspondence of Collector of Customs with ‘C’ prefix	1923–47		SP11/27
General correspondence of Collector of Customs with ‘B’ prefix	1924		SP11/28
Correspondence of Collector of Customs re Chinese	1926–47		SP11/12
File movement and Folio registers for ‘C’ series correspondence	1932–48		SP143/1
Melbourne
General and classified correspondence	1902–ongoing		B13
Brisbane
Correspondence files of Collector of Customs, Brisbane	1899–1909		BP342/1
Correspondence files of sub-Collector of Customs, Townsville	1910–65		J2773
Correspondence files of Collector of Customs, Brisbane	1935–45		BP234/1
Perth
Register of correspondence	1901–42		PP4/4
Numerical index cards to ‘H’ Series	1926–50		PP513/5
Subject index cards to ‘H’ Series	1926–45		PP513/4
General correspondence with ‘H’ infix	1926–50		PP6/1
Policy and Administration files, with ‘W’ prefix	1937–60		PP110/7
Adelaide
Correspondence files	1871–1962		D596
Hobart
Correspondence files	1901–ongoing		P437
Darwin
Correspondence files relating to immigration	1933–42		E756, E757

7. Miscellaneous records related to immigration

The records listed in this section include the instruction circulars issued to officials on the administration of the various immigration programs, and on how to interpret the provisions of legislation relating to immigration.

Title or description of records	Date		Series No.
Sydney
Papers re dispute over leak to the press	1906		SP11/29
Immigration circulars	1931–47		C4239
Register of Forms	1933–45		SP444/1
Register of Endorsements	1937–50		SP1095/5
Melbourne
Miscellany	1880–1925		MP56/12
Folders of correspondence, reports and agreements relating to immigration	1922–26		M1773
Brisbane
Immigration Act Circular Instructions IA Series	1913–21		BP170/7
Immigration Act Circular Instructions IAI Series	1917–39		BP170/5
Immigration Act Information Circulars	1931–58		BP384/20
Index to Immigration Act Information Circulars	1933–53		BP384/21
Perth
Government Statistician’s Reports: Immigration	1913–18		PP444/2
Circulars/Instructions and associated index	1926–45		K1013
Adelaide
Register containing Immigration (Restriction) Act 1901 and related correspondence	1901–13		AP214/9
Immigration Act 1914 Instructions(with annotations)	1914–19		D3193
Hobart
Nil
Darwin
Nil