Can you help me explore my family history?

Who knows what mysteries and magic hide in the branches of your family tree?

Genealogy is more popular than ever and the Heritage Centre may hold the records that help you to reveal the secrets of your ancestors’ past by finding out who they were and how they lived.

Visit us and we will help you get started.  You can delve into our remarkable and diverse genealogical resources relating to people who lived in Geelong and the Bellarine, the regional areas of the Golden Plains Shire, Surf Coast Shire, Borough of Queenscliffe. We also have birth, death and marriage indexes for all Australian states, and free access to many other popular indexes and databases.

Top tips for researching your family tree

• Record everything you know regarding names, dates and places.  Ask older generations of your family to help – the further back you can get, the easier it will be once you start consulting indexes and original records.
• Work from the known to the unknown.  Begin with yourself and work back through the generations.
• Using a family tree chart will help keep your findings organised logically.  Ask our friendly team for a free chart, guidance in filling it out, and tips on how to find your more elusive forebears.
• After more in-depth information?  Genealogy is fun but can also be complex and time-consuming.   Consider applying for our professional research service.