Bega Valley Genealogy Society Inc
Record Holdings
Our Holdings
The Bega Valley Genealogy Society library has a large local section and most books are indexed for surnames. These surnames are then added to our Local Surnames Index, which is now up to volume seven.
We have microfiche and microfilm reader printers which are very useful for reading our vast collection of records on microfiche and local newspapers on film. There are four computers holding over 300 CDs, including BDM indexes for all Australian states, ‘Family Search’ and ‘Find My Past’ for international births and marriages; and much, much more!
We are connected to the internet, which allows you to search many free, family history sites. Also, we now offer our members access to ‘Find My Past’ covering USA, Canada, UK, Scottish Census, Ireland & Australasia.
UNDERUTILISED LIBRARY RESOURCES
Our Library at Bega Valley Genealogy Society has a large number of resources for members and visitors to use. Many of our resources are underutilised at the moment, so here is a reminder of what we do have in Pambula for members and visitors alike to use.
Besides over 4,000 books we have many other tools that can be used to find valuable information when researching your family.
As well as a huge amount of information on our local area and pioneering families, we have a subscription to a number of resources.
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Find My Past (FMP) – this database started in England many years ago and they hold a great amount of information. Yes, some of it can be found on other sites like Ancestry, but there is a wealth of information that is not on Ancestry. Besides all the readily available UK Census, FMP has the only database for the 1939 Register – this was taken at the beginning of World War II, so it is invaluable in tracing more recent English forebears. Anyone who is still living is blacked out for privacy reasons, but it often includes additions in red eg female married name. This register was the basis for England’s current health system. We also have access through this website to UK newspapers – millions of articles from newspapers for over a century. FMP also has a dedicated Youtube channel with lots of additional hints. They are also amassing a lot of family trees which have been submitted to them, similar to Ancestry.
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The Biographical Database of Australia (BDA) – we currently have a subscription to this unique resource as well. This database is collated from early records which exist here in Australia. Whilst it includes many “important” people, there is also a wealth of information about people from all walks of life. It has over 13,000 entries currently, with more coming online all the time. I found my convict ancestor on there which provided me with more information than I currently had. Each entry is thoroughly researched by both volunteer and professional researchers.
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FamilySearch – we are an affiliated society so you can access more information at our library than what is available to you from home. We have a dedicated laptop for this resource which has been fully updated by our local branch of the Church of the Latter Day Saints who provide this information free of charge. There is no charge for this site which contains over a billion records. Family Search provides some family trees based on their own records, as well as those that are submitted to them. They also have a photo collection.
X LOCAL
The ‘X Local’ is defined as the rest of the Australia and the World. The Library contains so many records, there is over a 100 pages of titles, so we will list just a few, Convict, Exiles & Early Settlers, Family Histories and Biographies, Immigration and Shipping, International.
Library Holdings (x Local) August 2023
How to search a PDF using a browser
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Open the PDF in any web browser
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When it opens up, press CTRL+F or CMD+F on your keyboard, depending on your operating system.
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A box will appear - type in the word you are looking for.
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Use the up and down arrows in the box to toggle between the instances that word appears in the document.
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All results will be highlighted.
LOCAL AREA
The ‘Local’ area is defined as the South Coast of New South Wales from Batemans Bay to the Victorian Border and includes the Monaro.
The Library contains so much local information WHICH IS NOT ON THE INTERNET such as Family Histories and Collections of Biographies and the Pioneer Register, Local Rates Books for the Shire Councils and Lands Boards to name a few.
Have a look at our extensive Holdings List.
Library Holdings (Local ) August 2023
How to search a PDF using a browser
-
Open the PDF in any web browser
-
When it opens up, press CTRL+F or CMD+F on your keyboard, depending on your operating system.
-
A box will appear - type in the word you are looking for.
-
Use the up and down arrows in the box to toggle between the instances that word appears in the document.
-
All results will be highlighted.
HEADSTONE PHOTOS
Headstone photos of Bega Valley cemeteries up to 2010/2011
Images are available upon request - costs to be determined.
KAMERUKA HOLDINGS
The Bega valley Genealogy Society holds full records covering THE KAMERUKA ESTATE for a period of over 160 years. These records deal with financial matters, employment records, dairy herd, cheese making records and everything to do with a varied and substantial Estate. It was professionally managed where everything was meticulously recorded for the benefit of absentee owners.
The Estate was developed along the lines of an English Village and was largely self-sufficient. It had up to 67 houses as well as public buildings, a Church, School and Sporting facilities. In 1914 the population was about three hundred and fifty, of whom thirty five men went to the Great War.
In the 1850’s, the Walker Brothers brought in a shipload of German workers and many of their dependents are still living in the district.
During its history Kameruka was used for beef and tallow production, later for dairying, sheep and wool and for a while fruit, with an extensive peach orchard. It suffered from all the usual farm problems, many of which sound familiar even today, including drought, flood, poor markets, price squeezing, transport difficulties and even a serious rabbit infestation. It is all in the papers
The Kameruka papers are complete, covering a long period and provide an original source of social and farming history.
Kameruka Holdings List 2013
The Foster Family (former owners of the KAMERUKA ESTATE) have given the Bega Valley Genealogy Society a very large collection of photographs of Kameruka.
To view or research this collection is by Appointment ONLY.
Example of the material available:
Day Work Sheets for R. Shooks – click on the below photographs for a larger view.
Discover your history
Research our extensive range of documents
Photo copyright Bega Valley Genealogy Society Inc