Local History

Your Library values our role in connecting residents with their local history. 

Each branch of Your Library maintains a local history collection relevant to its own local area, as well as to the wider region covered by the library service. The collections include books, pamphlets, and local and community newspapers. Please refer to your local library for specific information.

Original materials such as manuscripts and photographs are not included in the collection; they are held by local historical societies.

Your Library Community Databases

Local historical societies or groups are eligible to have their catalogues included in the Your Library Community Databases. The local area includes the City of Knox, the City of Maroondah, and the Shire of Yarra Ranges. Historical Societies, community groups, and clubs with a collection that contains material of historical and cultural significance to the community are eligible to be included.

The Your Library Community Databases project was created to enable local societies and community groups to have historical or cultural information accessible over the internet, via the library website.

The following databases are searchable. Simply click on the database name to be taken to the search window.

The copyright of the database records remains the property of the participating organisations. The participating organisations are responsible for maintaining the content of the database records. The participating organisations are responsible for any uploaded content, sound, and images. If you believe the use of images or sound content in this database constitutes copyright infringement, please contact the participating organisation.

Family History

Exclusively at the Library

Access ancestry.com and findmypast.com.au for free using library computers or using your device connected to library Wi-Fi.

Getting started with Family History

Have you always wanted to trace your family history but don’t know where to start? Your Library can help you start to trace your family in Australia and overseas, using online databases, books, microfiche, and CDROMs.

Before you start your research, it is advisable to take the following steps:

1. Borrow books

Books on beginning family history research are available from the library.

2. Speak to older members of the family

They can remember earlier family members who are no longer alive and may also have photographs and other memorabilia that will help provide dates and other details.

3. Obtain copies of certificates

Try obtaining birth and marriage certificates for yourself, your parents and possible grandparents. Each certificate enables you to take another step back – from marriage to birth to the previous generation.

4. Record and chart

Keep all of the information you receive and chart relationships for easy reference.

Visit a branch

Family History records are held by the following branches (records vary from branch to branch):

Contact a Family History Librarian