Dubbo
Drawing on a wide range of resources, the local studies collection at Dubbo Branch is a valuable source of information on the history and development of the Dubbo from 1818 to the present. Local Studies Officer Sandra Smith compliments the collection with expert knowledge on the history of Dubbo and its surrounds.
The collection includes an extensive range of books, over 2500 images under 58 classifications, 300 maps (of which at least 120 have been gridded and indexed), newspapers from 1894 and more than 2000 original documents.
The librarys aim is to collect and preserve Dubbos history so that it is available to current and future researchers.
The Macquarie Regional Library has online a collection of photographs and a timeline to assist with any research or interests your inner historian may have.
The collection includes documents on 59 towns and villages (including some of which no longer exist), historic houses, buildings and properties, 160 family files, thousands of newspaper clippings, unpublished manuscripts, and the following:
Births, marriages and deaths
Historic houses, buildings and properties
Wallace and McGee documents
Newspapers
Census and electoral rolls
Schools
James Holmes - Bank Manager
Special books (over 100 years old)
Rare books (over 120 years old)
Resources database
Archives resource kit
Births, marriages and deaths
Burials form C J Shakespeare from 1927 to 2002
Baptisms at Holy Trinity which include date birth of child
The thirty two people who were sentenced to the Gallows at Old Dubbo Gaol including the eight that were hanged
Dubbo Holy Trinity Anglican Church - on microfilm
Baptism Register form 1874 to 1998. Index with name, birth and baptism dates in hard copy.
Marriages from 1884 to 1998
Marriage banns from 1934 to 1986
Burials from 1874 to 1995 (incomplete)
St Luke's minute books from March 1869 to September 1883
Burial database: holds 20,500 entries for Dubbo and the region includes maiden names, marriage dates, parents, spouses, children, address, undertaker, shipping details, cause of death, position in cemetery and newspaper dates.
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Historic houses, buildings and properties
History, with photographs, of Dubbo twenty five private hospitals
Dubbo hotels from 1839 (position, owners, licensees, name changes and photographs)
The District Hotel; breweries and vineyards
150 years of all shop sites in Talbragar and Macquarie Streets
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Wallace and McGee documents
Includes newspaper articles, advertisements, supplies, costs, office stationery, frames and photographs. A very comprehensive development of NSW buildings in the way of three photo albums entitles "Wallace and McGee - history of Builders and Buildings". A written and photographic history starting with the beginning of Dubbo and the depicting all constructions completed, by this firm, from their beginning 1922 until closure. Every place, date and cost has been recorded.
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Newspapers
Dubbo Liberal - from 1962 to date in hard copies and from 1894 on microfilm. Both have some small gaps.
Dubbo Dispatch - from 1899 to 1974 in hard copy and 1887 to 1914 on microfilm.
Cobar Age - from 1978 to 1992 on microfilm.
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Census and electoral rolls
1891 Census for country NSW - on microfilm
1903 to 1916 Electoral Rolls for Western area - on microfiche
From 1972 for Dubbo in hard copy
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Schools
History of South Dubbo School 1925 - 1987
Girl's Central School Administration records 1899 to 1971 (micro fiche)
Boy's Central School Administration records 1929 to 1971 (micro fiche)
Central School Class Rolls 1956 to 1968 , incomplete (micro fiche)
Beni Class Roll (hard copy)
Westella Class Roll from 1947 (hard copy)
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James Holmes - Bank Manager
Hundreds of original documents dating from his commencement in Dubbo in 1965. Included in these irreplaceable documents is the will of Dubbo's first permanent settler, George Smith, better know as "Dusty Bob", accidentally killed in 1868.
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Special books (over 100 years old)
Early Sands Directories
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Rare books (over 120 years old)
History of NSW
Men of Mark Volumes 1, as well as several different publications of Volume 2.
Land Leases; Purchases and Stock Runs
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Resources database
collection of over 16,000 entries on names; weddings; disasters; properties; happenings; disasters; special events; holdings; occupations; festivals; etc (work in progress)
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Archives resource kit
The State Records Office chose Dubbo as one of the centres in NSW to be given an Archives Resource Kit. This includes microfilm copies of:
Index to the Colonial Secretarys papers 1788-1825 plus the actual papers for the same period. These include lists on names; returns and letters sent to the Colonial Secretary on from convicts; free settlers; government bodies; ships captains, permission to marry etc.
Arrivals in NSW, including Moreton Bay and Port Phillip, with passenger lists to 1900
Departures from NSW to 1825
NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages from 1787-1857 and Marriage Licences from 1813-1827
Coroners inquests and Magisterial inquiries 1796-1942
Land grants & leases 1792-1867
Naturalization index and Certificates 1849-1903 and Letters of Denization 1834-1847
Professions and occupations for Public Servants 1858-1870. Along with Police; Doctors; Chemists; Druggists; Barristers; Solicitors; Attorneys; Proctors and Conveyancers
Returns of the Colony 1822 - 1857
Electoral Rolls 1842 - 1864
Orphans 1817 -1833
Also available on disc
Births, Deaths & Marriages for Tasmania; Victoria; Western Australia; NSW births to 1918
Post Office Directory for 1904 for WA; Vic; Tas; SA; Qld and NSW
Public Service records for 1904 and 1920
Land holders for 1900
Australian Pastoral Directories for 1913; 1923; 1925
Pastoral Possessions for NSW
Dictionary of Australian Biographies
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