Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP)

The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) is a collection of historical material relating to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific dating from 1560 to 1984.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are kindly advised that this website includes images, sounds and names of people who have passed.

All users should be aware that some topics or historical content may be culturally sensitive, offensive or distressing, and that some images may contain nudity or are of people not yet identified. Certain words, terms or descriptions may reflect the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written, but are now considered inappropriate in today's context.

Key to library resources

Log in as a Library member Log in as a Library member (NSW residents only) or visit the Library
Visit the Library Visit the Library
Freely accessible eresource Freely accessible eresource

Home Office (PRO Series)

The Home Office was responsible for law and order and the administration of convicts. These records are very popular with family historians and include:

  • criminal registers of persons charged with indictable offences
  • lists of convicts on hulks and in prisons, transportation registers etc.

Also included are records documenting life in the Colony such as convict musters, pardons and ticket of leave.


Home Office handbook

Browse the Home Office Handbook to locate Home Office Classes that list and describe records relevant to your research.

Print copies of the handbook are also available in the Library at the Family History and Special Collections Desks:


Home Office finding aid

Browse the Guide to the Records of the Home Office to locate Classes of records and view digitised documents relevant to your research.

Alternatively, select from the following list, a popular class of Home Office records.

(For a quick view of all Home Office classes see the Home Office Handbook Contents List)

Popular classes of Home Office records: