Research Guides: Historical statistics: 1788-1996: Commonwealth and other states statistics

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Commonwealth and other states statistics

Resources

House of Commons Parliamentary Papers [eresource]
Search for full text statistical reports and returns relating to Australia that were tabled in the House of Commons from 1788. You will find committee reports, statistical tables and inquiry reports relating to the Aboriginal and convict populations, colonial trade, agriculture and finance.
Colonial microfiche series [catalogue record | microfiche]
Find reproductions of statistical publications from all six Australian colonial governments. The series covers 1804–1901 and includes maps.
See Catalogue of Australian Statistical Publications for the index of this series.
Findmypast.com.au [eresource]
Find statistical tables from the New South Wales colonial government gazettes, almanacs, parliamentary papers, directories and journals.
Click the Search button to load the search page with more options. Click the All record sets. Click the Wheredropdown list and select Australia & New Zealand. Enter Census in the search box to find the NSW 1828, 1841, 1891 and 1901 census.
Official statistical publications on microfiche, 1901–1990 [catalogue record | microfiche]
Use the Historical Publication Index (1907–1993) on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website or the Catalogue of Official Statistical Publications 1901–1984 to find the name of the ABS publication for your topic. This comprehensive collection dates from the beginning of Australia as a nation.
Use this resource to view publications that are not available on the ABS website.
Australian Historical Population Statistics, 1788–present [external website]
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.
Commonwealth Year Books, 1908 onwards -- Australian Bureau of Statistics [external website]
Find a comprehensive overview of Australian statistics that are displayed in tables and charts. You will also find special reports regarding the statistics collected or about certain events that happened that year.
Guide to Australian Business Records [external website]
Find historical records in Australian collections that relate to companies, businesses and the agricultural sector.
Historical and Colonial Census Data Archive [external website]
View census records from 1833 to 1901 for Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
Historical Census Pre 1996 -- Australian Bureau of Statistics [external website]
You can view census records from 1911 to 1991 by state or topic, such as unemployment.
We have more detailed tables of census results, including housing, ancestry and interstate movements, in print and digital formats. Search the catalogue using the keyword ‘census’ and the year.
Labour Statistics Australia 1991-1997 -- Australian Bureau of Statistics [external website]
Find statistical information from about the labour force including employment, wages and benefits, working hours, industrial relations and international comparisons. The statistics cover the period 1891 to 1997.
A Statistical Account of the Seven Colonies of Australia and New Zealand, 1890–1903/1904 -- Australian Bureau of Statistics [external website]
View statistics collected from each of the Australian colonies and New Zealand. You will find statistical information, analysis and commentary about the population as well as topics such as agriculture, climate and defence.
Victorian Government Gazette Online Archive -- State Library of Victoria [external website]
View the complete series of the Victorian Government Gazette from 1851 to 1997. You will find information about all aspects of government such as shipping and emigration notices, land transactions and new acts of parliament.
Before 1851 you will find information about Victoria in the ‘New South Wales Government Gazettes’ (1836–1859), ‘Port Phillip Government Gazette’ (1844–July 1851) and ‘Port Phillip Government Notices’ (January–12 July 1843).

Changing attitudes

The language used in some of the publications reflects the ideas and attitudes of the writer or the society at the time it was written. Some of the language may now be considered inappropriate or offensive.

Did you know?

There were 3,254 people in Australia who listed 'Freethinker' as their religion in the census held in 1911.

How many pagans do you think there were? Check out the Year Book Australia, 1913 to find out.

National Archives of Australia

Search the National Archives of Australia's collection to find historical statistical publications. These include reports from government departments that contain statistics about immigration, the Aboriginal population, defence and economy.

Newspapers on Trove

Find historical statistical tables, reports and articles by searching Australian newspapers on Trove.

Gazettes

Governments used gazettes to inform the public of decisions and their activities. Entries in gazettes can be 'as brief as a road closure notice or as comprehensive as a 200 page list of everyone who is registered to practice medicine in Victoria'.

For more information see Victorian Government Gazette Online Archive.