Research Guides: Aboriginal Australians family history : Tindale genealogies

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All users should be aware that some topics or historical content may be culturally sensitive, offensive or distressing, and that some images may contain nudity or are of people not yet identified.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

	In the Library (or anywhere with a Library card for NSW residents)
	Only in the Library
	Publicly available

Tindale genealogies

How to use the Tindale genealogies

You can use Tindale genealogies when in the Library. Can't come to the Library? Contact us.

How to search the Tindale genealogies for NSW

STEP 1

Check the Index to the NSW Tindale Genealogies [PDF 196.22KB] to see if your family name is listed.

Many Aboriginal people travelled around NSW so your family may have their roots in one community but appear in another.

STEP 2

You must be a direct descendant or have written approval from communities or families to view the Tindale genealogies.

Make an appointment to see one of the Indigenous Services librarians before you visit. Provide the information you noted from the index entry. We will then collect the relevant sheet or sheets from storage for you to view when you visit.

The Mitchell Library (where the Tindale genealogies are kept) is not open on Sundays. View our Opening Hours.

These genealogies were produced as a result of academic studies and contain scientific jargon that may offend some family history researchers. It is important that the sheets are viewed with the Indigenous Services librarians for clarification purposes. In some instances photographs were also taken. This is indicated by a number starting with N found near the person’s name on the genealogical sheets. The genealogies and photos can be copied.

What are the Tindale Genealogies?

Norman Tindale was an anthropologist who recorded vast amounts of genealogical information about Indigenous communities all over Australia, mainly during the 1920s and 1930s. The original documents are held in the South Australian Museum. We have copies of the genealogies and photos for New South Wales.

Read more about the Tindale genealogies.

Who can view the Tindale Genealogies?

In the interests of privacy and respect for the communities mentioned in the genealogies, the State Library of NSW has agreed to a restricted access policy, as required by the South Australian Museum. Only direct descendants or those with written approval from communities or families can view the genealogies.