Historical statistics: 1788-1996

You will need a Library card to use many of the resources. You can sign up online or in the Library.

Find reproductions of statistical publications from the New South Wales colonial government. The series covers 1804–1901 and includes maps.
See Catalogue of Australian Statistical Publications for the index of this series.

View population trends such as migration, distribution and divorce in Australia from 1788. The data has been gathered into spreadsheets.
Please note this resource was published between 2001-2008.

View the colonial census records of New South Wales for 1833 to 1901. You will find the early census records only record the number of inhabitants and their religion whereas later census records document more detail such as education levels and occupations.

Find statistics on various topics such as population, trade, agriculture, mining, social conditions and construction for the period 1857 to 1888.
Between 1822 and 1857 this publication was called ‘Returns of the Colony’ or 'Blue Books' and was published by the Office of the Colonial Secretary. From 1889 until 1955 the publication was called ‘New South Wales statistical register’.

Find statistics on various topics such as population and vital statistics, trade and commerce, finance (private and public), manufactories, industrial wages, education, science and art, primary production (such as agriculture, grazing and dairy farming and mining), social conditions, shipping, transport and communication, local government (area, population and finance) and land settlement for the period 1889 to 1955.
Between 1857 and 1888 this publication was called ‘Statistical register of New South Wales’. After 1955, the publication was split into a number of publications each covering different areas, for example ‘New South Wales statistical register. Mining’.

Find a summary of New South Wales statistics published from 1901 to 1931. Includes statistical information about various areas such as migration, public and private finance, social services and agricultural production.
From 1920 the summary was published quarterly.

Use the Historical Publication Index (1907-1993) on the ABS website or the Catalogue of Official Statistical Publications 1901-1984 to find the name of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publication for your topic. This comprehensive collection includes publications about New South Wales from the formation of Australia as a nation.
Use this resource to view publications that are not available on the ABS website.

Download year books in PDF format to find tables, maps, graphs and photographs with extensive historical statistics about education, trade, agriculture, population and other aspects of life in New South Wales. There were some years when a year book wasn’t published.
In 1887 this publication was called the ‘Wealth and Progress of NSW’. It was then known as the 'Official Year Book of New South Wales’ from 1904/1905 and subsequently as the ‘New South Wales Year Book’ in 1981.