Victorian Genealogy
Finding People and Places in Victoria, Australia.
There are electoral rolls for the New South Wales, Victorian and Australian Parliaments. There are voter rolls that are compiled by local government authorities.
Victoria began as the Port Phillip District of the colony of New South Wales. Representative government began in New South Wales in 1842. Elections were held for the Legislative Council and members represented electorates in the Port Phillip District. In this era you were included on the electoral rolls if you were a male (natural born British subject) over 21 years of age who owned or occupied property of a certain value in the electorate. For naturalization records of non British subjects see Naturalization Records. The County of Bourke was the area around Melbourne. The County of Grant was the area around Geelong.
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES - MARION BUTTON ELECTORAL LISTS INDEX 1841-1851
Extracted from the Port Phillip Herald and The Argus.
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
PORT PHILLIP DISTRICT COUNTY OF GRANT LIST OF ELECTORS 1843
Geelong Advertiser 10 April 1843 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8432454
PORT PHILLIP DISTRICT COUNTY OF BOURKE ELECTORS ROLL 1843
Port Phillip Herald 26 May 1843
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=EVKlETVVbN8C&dat=18430526&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Port Phillip Gazette 31 May 1843 page 1
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/23203799
PORT PHILLIP DISTRICT COUNTY OF GRANT LIST OF ELECTORS 1845
Geelong Advertiser 16 April 1845 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8433255
PORT PHILLIP DISTRICT COUNTY OF BOURKE LIST OF ELECTORS 1845
Port Phillip Gazette 9 August 1845 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/23202734
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF PORT PHILLIP, POLICE DISTRICT OF GEELONG LIST OF ELECTORS 1847-1848
Geelong Advertiser and Squatters' Advocate 13 April 1847 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8167355
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF PORT PHILLIP LIST OF ELECTORS 1847-1848
The Melbourne Argus 20 July 1847 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/28353051
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF PORT PHILLIP, POLICE DISTRICT OF GEELONG LIST OF ELECTORS 1848
Geelong Advertiser 15 April 1848 page 2
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8145496
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF PORT PHILLIP LIST OF ELECTORS 1848-1849
The Melbourne Argus 30 June 1848 pages 3 and 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/175203
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/175204
ANCESTRY - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, HISTORICAL ELECTORAL ROLLS, 1842-1864
These include Melbourne and Port Phillip District 1848-1849. These records are provided in association with State Records Authority of NSW. They may be browsed and they are searchable.
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1310
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF PORT PHILLIP, POLICE DISTRICT OF GEELONG LIST OF ELECTORS 1849-1850
Geelong Advertiser 12 April 1849 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8142738
DISTRICT OF PORT PHILLIP COUNTY OF BOURKE LIST OF CLAIMANTS 1849
The Argus 1 May 1849 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/503171
DISTRICT OF PORT PHILLIP LIST OF ELECTORS 1849-1850
A-G The Argus 25 June 1849 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/503333
G-M The Argus 29 June 1849 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/503365
M-Y The Argus 3 July 1849 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/503384
A-G The Melbourne Daily News 26 June 1849 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/22520191
G-M The Melbourne Daily News 2 July 1849 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/22520212
M-Z Does not appear to have been published.
PORT PHILLIP DISTRICT WEBSITE - ELECTORAL ROLLS 1849
https://www.portphillipdistrict.info/1849_PPD_Electoral_Roll.htm
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF PORT PHILLIP, POLICE DISTRICT OF GEELONG LIST OF ELECTORS 1850-1851
Geelong Advertiser 17 April 1850 page 2
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8143509
List of Claimants
Geelong Advertiser 24 April 1850 page 2
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8143527
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES - GENERAL LIST OF ELECTORS IN ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF PORT PHILLIP 1850-1851
This has been indexed into the Genealogical Society of Victoria's Genealogical Index of Names (GIN) Database. It is dated from 1 June 1850 to 31 May 1851.
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
COUNTY OF BOURKE ELECTORAL LIST 1850-1851
Melbourne Morning Herald 6 June 1850
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=EVKlETVVbN8C&dat=18500606&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
LENORE FROST - WEST BOURKE ELECTORAL ROLL 1850 INDEX
An index of List of Electors for the District of the County of Bourke which was published in Melbourne Morning Herald 6 June 1850.
https://members.optusnet.com.au/lenorefrost/westbourkeelect.html
ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF PORT PHILLIP, POLICE DISTRICT OF GEELONG LIST OF ELECTORS 1851
Geelong Advertiser 4 September 1851 page 1
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8145114
The Port Phillip District separated from the colony of New South Wales to become the colony of Victoria in 1851. Representative government began and elections were held for the Legislative Council in 1851; 20 of the 30 Legislative Council members were elected and the rest chosen by the Lieutenant-Governor. In this era you were included on the electoral rolls if you were a male (natural born British subject) over 21 years of age who owned or occupied property of a certain value in the electorate.
The Legislative Assembly (the lower house) was instituted in 1856 and you were included on the electoral rolls if you were a male (natural born British subject) over 21 years of age who owned or occupied property of a certain value in the electorate. By 1857 all males (natural born or naturalized British subject) over 21 years of age could vote.
For the Legislative Council (the upper house) you were included on the electoral rolls if you were a male (natural born British subject) over 21 years of age who owned or occupied property of a certain value in the electorate. Naturalized British subjects could not vote in the Legislative Council until 1881.
The State Library of Victoria and the Genealogical Society of Victoria hold electoral rolls for various areas for this era. There are only two complete electoral rolls that survive this period: the 1856 and 1899 electoral rolls. The Victorian electoral roll 1899 is not online.
Plural voting was abolished in 1899 for the lower house and continued until 1938 in the upper house. Prior to this the number of votes an elector had depended on how much property he owned. If he or she owned property in more than one electorate the person may be listed as an elector in more than one electorate.
ANCESTRY - VICTORIAN ELECTORAL ROLL 1856
The Victorian electoral roll for 1856 can be seen on the Ancestry website under Australian Electoral Rolls 1903-1980.
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1207
BENDIGO FAMILY HISTORY GROUP - 1856 ELECTORAL ROLL-BENDIGO DIVISION (WAYBACK MACHINE INTERNET ARCHIVE)
This snapshot is dated 3 April 2021.
STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA - ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF ARARAT, LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1859
This has been digitized.
https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE4203054&mode=browse
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES - ELECTORAL ROLLS
Electoral rolls for this era have been indexed and are included on the Genealogical Index of Names on the Genealogical Society of Victoria website.
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
FAMILYSEARCH - ELECTORAL ROLLS MALDON AND CASTLEMAINE DISTRICTS 1856, 1862 AND 1875
Original records were in possession of Mr. M. J. Blume, Castlemaine.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/204669?availability=Family%20History%20Library
GEELONG AND DISTRICT WEBSITE - GEELONG AND DISTRICT ELECTORAL LIST INDEXES
The following electoral lists have been indexed into the Geelong and District Database:
http://zades.com.au/gandd/index.php/databases/potpourri/ppindexes
The colony of Victoria joined with the other Australian colonies to become Australia in 1901. After Federation and for some years afterwards, there were separate rolls for Commonwealth and for state elections. Women got voting rights at the federal level in Australia in 1902. Indigenous people were excluded from voting. Women got voting rights at the state level in Victoria in 1908. Registering to vote became compulsory in 1911.
Plural voting was abolished in 1938 for the upper house. Prior to this the number of votes an elector had depended on how much property he owned. If he or she owned property in more than one electorate the person may be listed as an elector in more than one electorate. There were property qualifications on voters for the Legislative Council until 1950.
In 1962 indigenous people were granted the right to vote in Commonwealth elections. Enrolment was voluntary but once enrolled, voting was compulsory.
In 1973 the minimum voting age was lowered from 21 to 18.
In 1984 compulsory enrolment and voting for indigenous people was introduced.
Information about occupations was no longer included on electoral rolls from 1984. From 1990 the electoral rolls are arranged in one alphabetical surname sequence for the entire state.
Current Victorian electoral rolls can be viewed at Victorian Electoral Commission.
Current Australian electoral rolls can be viewed at Australian Electoral Commission.
STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA - ELECTORAL ROLLS
The State Library of Victoria holds electoral rolls from 1903 to 2008 (not published every year). From 2009 public copies were no longer deposited with the library. Their electoral roll holdings are not online.
The below guide includes a pdf "Victorian Electoral Rolls". This includes a list of electoral rolls held by the State Library of Victoria.
https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/victorianancestors/electoral
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIA, ELECTORAL ROLLS 1903-1980
These include the following years for Victoria: 1856, 1903, 1905-06, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1912-13, 1914, 1915-18, 1919, 1920-22, 1924, 1925-28, 1931, 1932-35, 1936-37, 1942-43, 1949, 1954, 1958, 1963, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1977 and 1980.
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1207
FAMILYSEARCH - ELECTORAL ROLLS GIPPSLAND DIVISION 1905
Original records were in possession of Linda Barraclough, Bairnsdale, Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/207195?availability=Family%20History%20Library
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES - ELECTORAL ROLL ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF CASTLEMAINE AND MALDON FRYERS DIVISION 1911
Special general list of electors.
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
MYHERITAGE - AUSTRALIA ELECTORAL ROLLS 1893-1949
This includes Victorian electoral rolls for 1922, 1927, 1939, 1941 and 1946.
MYHERITAGE - BENDIGO ELECTORAL ROLL 1922
FINDMYPAST - VICTORIA ELECTORAL ROLLS 1939-1946
These include the following years: 1939 and 1946. They are searchable.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/victoria-electoral-rolls
FAMILY HISTORY CONNECTIONS - EARLY ELECTORAL ROLLS OF AUSTRALIA 1903
This database may be viewed online at the Family History Connections website. For members only.
https://familyhistory.asn.au/layout.php?mod=aigsindexes&i=5
Local government began in Victoria (then the Port Phillip District of the colony of New South Wales) with Heidelberg Road Trust in 1841, followed by Melbourne being incorporated as a town in 1842. Municipal rolls were kept by the local government authorities. Municipal rolls and lists were known under various titles including ratepayer rolls and lists, burgess rolls and lists, citizen rolls and lists and voter rolls and lists. In the 19th Century you were included on municipal rolls if you were a male over 21 years of age who occupied a property of a certain value in the local government area and had paid your rates (Women were however included on voters rolls in the Shire of Avon in Gippsland from 1866).
Municipal voter rolls may still be held by the current municipal authority. See Local Government. Public Record Office Victoria holds many municipal voter rolls including those for Melbourne and Ballarat. Municipal voter rolls for Geelong are located at the Geelong Heritage Centre. The State Library of Victoria also holds voter rolls.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - VICTORIAN MUNICIPAL ELECTION VOTER ROLLS
Public Record Office Victoria holds many municipal voter rolls including those for Melbourne and Ballarat. These records are not online.
STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA - VOTER ROLLS
The below guide includes a pdf "Victorian Electoral Rolls". This includes a list of voter rolls held by the State Library of Victoria. These are not online.
https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/victorianancestors/electoral
TOWN OF MELBOURNE BURGESS LIST 1842
This includes Lonsdale, La Trobe, Gipps and Bourke Wards.
Port Phillip Gazette 8 October 1842 pages 2 and 3
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/23203540
TOWN OF MELBOURNE BURGESS LIST PERSONS OBJECTED TO AND CLAIMANTS 1842
This includes Lonsdale, Bourke, Gipps and La Trobe Wards.
Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser 27 Oct 1842 page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/22214538
PORT PHILLIP DISTRICT WEBSITE - MUNICIPAL VOTER ROLL FOR MELBOURNE 1842
https://www.portphillipdistrict.info/1842_Melbourne_Electoral_Roll.htm
MELBOURNE LIST OF BURGESSES 1843
Port Phillip Herald 8 September 1843
This includes Bourke, Latrobe and Gipps Wards.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=EVKlETVVbN8C&dat=18430908&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
MELBOURNE ELECTORAL LISTS APRIL 1847
The Melbourne Argus 13 April 1847 page 4
This includes Gipps and Latrobe Wards.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/174776
The Melbourne Argus 16 April 1847 page 4
This includes Lonsdale and Bourke Wards.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/174780
MELBOURNE ELECTORAL LISTS SEPTEMBER 1847
The Melbourne Argus 10 September 1847 pages 1 and 4
Gipps Ward (page 1)
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/174915
La Trobe, Lonsdale and Bourke Wards (page 4)
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/174918
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES - VOTER ROLLS
Voter rolls have been indexed and are included on the Genealogical Index of Names on the Genealogical Society of Victoria website.
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
MELBOURNE LIST OF ELECTORS 1849
The Argus 17 April 1849 pages 1 and 4
Bourke Ward
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/503152
Latrobe Ward
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/503155
ANCESTRY - VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, SELECTED TRIAL BRIEF AND CORRESPONDENCE REGISTERS AND OTHER IMAGES, 1837-1993
These are provided by Public Record Office Victoria. These records are not indexed but can be browsed by description and range. They include:
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60672
GEELONG LIST OF BURGESSES 1849
Geelong Advertiser 8 December 1849 page 2
Includes Kardinia, Barwon, Vallamanta and Bellarine Wards
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8143172
GEELONG BURGESS ROLL CLAIMANTS 1849
Geelong Advertiser 29 December 1849 page 2
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8143224
GEELONG LIST OF BURGESSES 1850
Geelong Advertiser 9 September 1850 pages 1 and 2
Bellarine and Barwon Wards
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8143949
Kardinia and Villamanta Wards
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8143950
FAMILYSEARCH - GEELONG BURGESS ROLLS 1850-1916
Original records were held at the Geelong Historical Records Centre, Geelong.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/551240?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - VOTERS ROLLS MALDON AND CASTLEMAINE DISTRICTS 1856, 1862 AND 1875
Original records were in possession of Mr. M. J. Blume, Castlemaine.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/204669?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - PORTLAND BURGESS ROLLS 1870-1882
Original records were housed at History House, Portland.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/571286?availability=Family%20History%20Library
BALLARAT AND DISTRICT GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY - CRESWICK-FRANKLIN RATE ROLL 1876
https://www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/resources-2/creswick-franklin-rateroll-1876
GEELONG AND DISTRICT WEBSITE - GEELONG AND DISTRICT ELECTORAL LIST INDEXES
The following electoral lists have been indexed into the Geelong and District Database:
http://zades.com.au/gandd/index.php/databases/potpourri/ppindexes
BENDIGO FAMILY HISTORY GROUP - BENDIGO VOTERS ROLL 1896-1914 (INTERNET ARCHIVE WAYBACK MACHINE)
The voters rolls cover the wards of Sutton, Barkly and Darling. This snapshot is dated 6 May 2021.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210506150322/https://www.bendigofamilyhistory.org/freeindexsearch.htm
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA GENEALOGICAL INDEX OF NAMES - BURGESSES' ROLL FOR THE BOROUGH OF CASTLEMAINE, FOR THE YEAR ENDING ON THE 12TH DAY OF AUGUST 1907
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
Some 19th century electoral rolls may be found in newspapers. Lists of voters supporting particular candidates appear in newspapers prior to elections. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
If you have questions or problems with this site, email the Web Administrator.