Victorian Genealogy
Finding People and Places in Victoria, Australia.
Also see Governments.
Convicts were people who were convicted of crime in Britain, Ireland or other places in the British Empire and transported to Australia. For people convicted of crime locally see Prison Records.
There was a convict settlement on Sullivan Bay at Sorrento in 1803 to 1804. This settlement was short lived and the settlers moved to Tasmania. Aside from this occasion there were no convicts serving their sentences sent out directly to Victoria. The convicts' records can be seen in the Tasmanian convict records.
There were however convicts serving their sentences in Victoria from 1826 to 1828 at Rhyll and Corinella. After permanent settlement begun in 1836 there were convicts serving their sentences in Victoria. All of these convicts were originally sent to New South Wales; Victoria was then the Port Phillip District of New South Wales. Transportation of convicts to New South Wales ended in 1840. The Port Phillip District government no longer employed convicts on government works from about 1843. The convicts' records can be seen in the New South Wales convict records.
Between 1844 and 1849, 1727 ex prisoners who had served their sentences were sent to Victoria. They were known as "Exiles". They were also referred to as "Pentonvillians" because most of them came from Pentonville Probationary Prison in England. Their immigration records can be found under Assisted Immigration Records. See Passenger Arrival Records. The dates of arrival, names of ships and numbers of ex-prisoners on board are listed below:
11 November 1844 - Royal George (21 landed at Melbourne)
20 March 1845 - Sir George Seymour (175 landed at Geelong)
27 January 1846 - Stratheden (51 Landed at Melbourne)
9 November 1846 - Maitland (291 Landed at Melbourne)
4 May 1847 - Thomas Arbuthnot (288 Landed at Melbourne)
24 September 1847 - Joseph Somes (248 Landed at Geelong)
25 January 1848 - Marion (292 Landed at Melbourne)
22 June 1848 - Anna Maria (163 Landed at Geelong)
4 February 1849 - Eden (133 Landed at Portland and 65 at Geelong)
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIAN CONVICT COLLECTION
This is a general search across numerous Australian and British data collections relating to convicts.
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/group/auconvicts#databases
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIA, CONVICT INDEX, 1788-1868
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=5517
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIA, LIST OF CONVICTS WITH PARTICULARS, 1788-1842
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1251
FINDMYPAST - NEW SOUTH WALES AND TASMANIA: SETTLERS AND CONVICTS 1787-1859
LIBRARIES TASMANIA TASMANIAN NAMES INDEX - TASMANIAN CONVICTS 1803-1893
https://librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/?
FAMILYSEARCH - AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, INDEX TO VARIOUS COLONIAL SECRETARY OFFICE'S FILES
These are in the catalog under Convicts Australia Tasmania. These include passage of convicts' families, convict assignments, convict marriages, and marriage allegations. Original records were at the Tasmanian State Archives, Hobart.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/232593?availability=Family%20History%20Library
ANCESTRY - TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA, CONVICT COURT AND SELECTED RECORDS, 1800-1899
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60920
FINDMYPAST - TASMANIA CONVICT RECORDS 1800-1893
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/tasmania-convict-records-1800-1893
NSW STATE RECORDS - CONVICTS INDEX 1791-1873
A single searchable database containing certificates of freedom; bank accounts; deaths; exemptions from Government Labor; pardons; tickets of leave; and, tickets of leave passports. The records are not digitised. This is under Online Indexes; Convicts.
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/convicts/indexes
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, SETTLER AND CONVICT LISTS, 1787-1834
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1183
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA CONVICT RECORDS, 1810-1891
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=8992
FAMILYSEARCH - COLONIAL SECRETARY, NEW SOUTH WALES, COPIES OF LETTERS SENT OUTSIDE THE COLONY, 1823-1831
Correspondence from the Colonial Secretary at Sydney to government officials outside the colony of New South Wales, particulary in Van Diemen's Land, with respect to prisoners. Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/80357?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - NEW SOUTH WALES CONVICT RECORDS 1831-1853
These are in the catalog under Convicts Australia New South Wales. They are Colonial Secretary records showing the transfer of prisoners to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania). Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/80656?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - NEW SOUTH WALES, COLONIAL SECRETARY, CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING PRISONERS, 1840-1856
Correspondence of the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales respecting prisoners in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land and elsewhere in Australia and New Zealand. Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/80376?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - NEW SOUTH WALES CONVICT RECORDS 1843-1845
These are in the catalog under Convicts Australia New South Wales. . They are Principal Superintendent of Convicts records which include an alphabetical list of convict release dates, including their date of arrival. Original records were at the Mitchell Library, Sydney
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/227305?availability=Family%20History%20Library
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - REGISTER OF CONVICTS 1842-1854 (VPRS 110)
The register has been digitized.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VPRS110
FINDMYPAST - VICTORIA, CONVICT REGISTER 1842-1854
These records were provided by Public Record Office Victoria. They are searchable.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/victoria-convict-register-1842-1854
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF IRELAND - PENAL TRANSPORTATION RECORDS DATABASE: IRELAND TO AUSTRALIA, 1788–1868
All transportation registers compiled before 1836 were destroyed in 1922. The database may also include records of members of convicts’ families transported as free settlers.
The database includes:
https://www.nationalarchives.ie/article/penal-transportation-records-ireland-australia-1788-1868-2/
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA - ARCHIVES RELATING TO THE TRANSPORTATION OF CONVICTS FROM IRELAND TO AUSTRALIA (AS FILMED BY THE AJCP), 1788-1868.
Records relating to transported convicts and some free settlers who applied to accompany convicts to Australia.
https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2004646
STATE LIBRARY OF QUEENSLAND - CONVICT TRANSPORTATION REGISTERS DATABASE 1787-1867
British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project. This is accessed through the One Search catalogue.
ANCESTRY - WEB: AUSTRALIA, CONVICT RECORDS INDEX, 1787-1867
Entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project.
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=70852
NSW STATE RECORDS AND ARCHIVES - CONVICTS INDENTS 1788-1801
Convict Indents list the convicts transported to NSW. Early indents provide name, date and place of trial and sentence; later indents usually contain more information such as a physical description, native place, age and crime. These are fully digitised. These are under Online Indexes; Convicts.
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIAN CONVICT TRANSPORTATION REGISTERS - FIRST FLEET, 1787-1788
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1177
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIAN CONVICT TRANSPORTATION REGISTERS - SECOND FLEET, 1789-1790
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1178
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIAN CONVICT TRANSPORTATION REGISTERS - THIRD FLEET, 1791
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1179
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIAN CONVICT TRANSPORTATION REGISTERS - OTHER FLEETS & SHIPS, 1791-1868
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1180
FINDMYPAST - CONVICT TRANSPORTATION REGISTERS 1787-1870
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/convict-transportation-registers-1787-1870
FINDMYPAST - AUSTRALIA CONVICT SHIPS 1786-1849
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/australia-convict-ships-1786-1849
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, CONVICT INDENTS, 1788-1842
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=2024
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA CONVICT SHIP MUSTER ROLLS AND RELATED RECORDS, 1790-1849
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1211
FINDMYPAST - NEW SOUTH WALES CONVICT ARRIVALS
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/new-south-wales-convict-arrivals
FAMILYSEARCH - NEW SOUTH WALES INDENTS OF CONVICT SHIPS 1830-1833
These are in the catalog under Australia New South Wales. List of prisoners who arrived in Sydney. Prisoners came mainly fron Ireland and England. Age and native place are included. Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/80690?availability=Family%20History%20Library
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, WIVES & CHILDREN OF IRISH CONVICTS, 1825-1840
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=2377
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES AND TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA CONVICT MUSTERS, 1806-1849
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1185
FAMILYSEARCH - NEW SOUTH WALES MUSTER OF ALL FEMALES IN THE COLONY 1806
These are in the catalog under Australia New South Wales. It is a muster of families of convicts arranged alphabetically and shows ship name, where married, number of male and female legitimate and illegitimate children and if they came free or not. Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/80433?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - COLONIAL SECRETARY, PAPERS, NEW SOUTH WALES 1791-1849
Convict ship musters and other papers, not in chronological order. Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/80445?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - COLONIAL SECRETARY, LETTERS RECEIVED, NEW SOUTH WALES 1801-1834
Petitions and muster rolls from New South Wales, Parramatta, and Norfolk Island. These are mainly from 1826 to 1833. Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/80456?availability=Family%20History%20Library
A Ticket of Leave allowed convicts to work for themselves provided that they remained in a specified area, reported regularly to local authorities and attended divine worship every Sunday, if possible. They could not leave the colony. For lists of Ticket of Leave holders also see Court Records.
A Certificate of Freedom was issued at the completion of a convict's sentence, as proof he/ she was a free person. They were free to travel anywhere, and could return to the United Kingdom.
A Conditional Pardon allowed convicts with life sentences freedom of the colony, but they were not allowed to return to the United Kingdom.
An Absolute Pardon gave a 'lifer' complete remittance of sentence. The convict had freedom of the colony and could return to the United Kingdom.
NSW STATE RECORDS - CONVICTS INDEX 1791-1873
A single searchable database containing certificates of freedom; bank accounts; deaths; exemptions from Government Labor; pardons; tickets of leave; and, tickets of leave passports. The records are not digitised. This is under Online Indexes; Convicts.
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/convicts/indexes
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, CONVICT REGISTERS OF CONDITIONAL AND ABSOLUTE PARDONS, 1788-1870
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1657
FINDMYPAST - AUSTRALIA CONVICT CONDITIONAL AND ABSOLUTE PARDONS 1791-1867
FAMILYSEARCH - CONVICT TICKETS OF LEAVE 1824-1874
This collection contains a record of licenses issued to prisoners that allowed them to start to build a new life before the official end of his or her sentence. Original records were at New South Wales Archives.https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/3499251
SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIAN GENEALOGISTS MIDAS - NEW SOUTH WALES CONVICT TICKETS OF LEAVE BUTTS 1827-1867
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES AND TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA, CONVICT PARDONS AND TICKETS OF LEAVE, 1834-1859
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1184
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, TICKETS OF LEAVE, 1810-1869
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1781
FINDMYPAST - AUSTRALIA CONVICT TICKETS OF LEAVE 1824-1874
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/australia-convict-tickets-of-leave-1824-1874
FAMILYSEARCH - NEW SOUTH WALES CERTIFICATES OF APPLICATION FOR TICKETS OF LEAVE 1822-1825
These are in the catalog under Australia New South Wales. Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/80681?availability=Family%20History%20Library
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES - MARION BUTTON TICKETS OF LEAVE AND CERTIFICATES OF FREEDOM 1840-1851
These are extracted from the Port Phillip Herald and The Argus. A list of exiles in January 1848 is included.
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, CERTIFICATES OF FREEDOM, 1810-1814, 1827-1867
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/certfreedom/
FAMILYSEARCH - CERTIFICATES OF FREEDOM, TICKETS OF LEAVE, AND PARDONS, NEW SOUTH WALES 1810-1867
Convict Records from Principal Superintendent of Convicts, New South Wales. Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/80669?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FINDMYPAST - NEW SOUTH WALES, BUTTS OF CONVICTS' CERTIFICATES OF FREEDOM 1827-1867
FAMILYSEARCH - NEW SOUTH WALES, REGISTER OF SENTENCES REMITTED OR COMMUTED 1838-1841
These are in the catalog under Australia New South Wales. Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/78329?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - NEW SOUTH WALES, PETITIONS FOR MITIGATION OF SENTENCE 1810-1825
Some books are alphabetical and some have indexes. Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/78279?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - NEW SOUTH WALES, PETITIONS FOR MITIGATION OF SENTENCE 1810-1826
These are in the catalog under Convicts Australia New South Wales. Original records were at the Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/80365?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - NEW SOUTH WALES CONVICT RECORDS 1823-1830
Listings of crimes committed by the convicts in Newcastle and New South Wales along with the sentences they received. Also prisoners' tickets of leave. Original records were at Mitchell Library, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/227328?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - NEW SOUTH WALES CONVICT RECORDS 1826-1827
Listings of crimes committed by the convicts in Newcastle and New South Wales along with the sentences they received. Original records were at the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/227321?availability=Family%20History%20Library
The consent of the Governor was required before convicts could marry. It should be noted that just because permission to marry was granted it means that the marriage actually took place.
FAMILYSEARCH - AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, INDEX TO VARIOUS COLONIAL SECRETARY OFFICE'S FILES
These are in the catalog under Convicts Australia Tasmania. These include passage of convicts' families, convict assignments, convict marriages, and marriage allegations. Original records were at the Tasmanian State Archives, Hobart.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/232593?availability=Family%20History%20Library
NEW SOUTH WALES STATE ARCHIVES AND RECORDS - CONVICTS' APPLICATIONS TO MARRY, INDEX 1825-1851
This is an index to the registers of convicts' applications to marry from 1825 to 1851. The years 1825-1851 have been indexed so far and other registers dated 1831-1837 have not yet been indexed. The records are not digitised. These are under Online Indexes; Convicts.
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, REGISTERS OF CONVICTS' APPLICATIONS TO MARRY, 1826-1851
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1504
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, CONVICT APPLICATIONS FOR THE PUBLICATION OF BANNS, 1828-1830, 1838-1839
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=9094
FINDMYPAST - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, REGISTERS OF CONVICTS' APPLICATIONS TO MARRY, 1825-1851
A death register recorded the deaths of convicts who died while still serving their sentence.
NSW STATE RECORDS - CONVICTS INDEX 1791-1873
A single searchable database containing certificates of freedom; bank accounts; deaths; exemptions from Government Labor; pardons; tickets of leave; and, tickets of leave passports. The records are not digitised. This is under Online Indexes; Convicts.
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/convicts/indexes
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, CONVICT DEATH REGISTER, 1826-1879
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1202
FINDMYPAST - NEW SOUTH WALES, CONVICT DEATH REGISTER, 1828-1879
NSW STATE RECORDS - CONVICTS INDEX 1791-1873
A single searchable database containing certificates of freedom; bank accounts; deaths; exemptions from Government Labor; pardons; tickets of leave; and, tickets of leave passports. The records are not digitised. This is under Online Indexes; Convicts.
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collections-and-research/guides-and-indexes/convicts/indexes
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, CONVICT SAVINGS BANK BOOKS, 1824-1886
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1245
DIGITAL PANOPTICON - TRACING LONDON CONVICTS IN BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA 1780-1925
Digital Panopticon is a collaboration between the Universities of Liverpool, Oxford, Sheffield, Sussex and Tasmania: it is published by the Digital Humanities Institute. This website allows you to search millions of records from around fifty datasets, relating to the lives of 90,000 convicts from the Old Bailey in London, England.
https://www.digitalpanopticon.org/
FAMILYSEARCH - EARLY AUSTRALIAN HISTORY: CONVICT LIFE IN NEW SOUTH WALES AND VAN DIEMEN'S LAND, PARTS I & II, THE STORY OF THE TEN GOVERNORS AND THE STORY OF THE CONVICTS BY CHARLES WHITE. PUBLISHED IN 1889 BY C. AND G.S. WHITE, FREE PRESS OFFICE, BATHURST.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2636604?availability=Online
DESCENDANTS OF CONVICTS GROUP VICTORIA INC.
FIRST FLEET FELLOWSHIP VIC INC.
https://firstfleetfellowship.org.au/
If you have questions or problems with this site, email the Web Administrator.