Our story

The history of the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages from its beginnings in 1856 to now.

Image of the old Registrars office from 1856. There are four horse drawn carts out the front of the building. The building is mad of sandstone, has a dome on the left hand side and pointed steeple in the center. There is a sandstone fence around the building with a cast-iron railing.

The year 2026 marks 170 years since the Registrar General, Christopher Rolleston, recorded the first civil registration using quill and ink.

In total, the Registry holds more than 20 million birth, death, and marriage records.

Find out more about our story and the history of civil registrations on this page.  

10,985,199

Number of birth registrations since 1856

4,649,573

Number of marriage registrations since 1856

5,360,868

Number of death registrations since 1856

20,995,640

Life events registered for all birth, death and marriage registrations since 1856

Image displays a brown metal coat of arms. On the left is a lion, on the right is a kangaroo with a shield between them. Below this reads 'Orta Recens Quam'

About the Registry

Who are we and what do we do? Find out about our services, our policies and how we serve NSW.

A book lays horizontally on a shelf. It is an old book. On the side is written the volume 10501 to 11000

History of the Registry's records

Learn about the history of NSW Registry records and how record keeping has changed over time.

Image of a dark brown metal plaque. It states 'NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 150 years of service to the people of NSW. 1856-2006. Dedicated by The Hon Bob Debus MP Attorney General of New South Wales.

Our historical timeline

View a timeline of the history of the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages from 1856 to now.

A yellow photo from 1864, December. It shows 10 males from this time period standing in a line in front of a stone building. The image includes all of their names listed at the bottom, with 'Staff of the Land Titles Office, Sydney, NSW, December 1864' written at the bottom.

NSW Registrars from 1856 to now

A list of the Registrars of the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.

A marine births index book is open. There is a man leaning over the book, pointing with his index finger at a particular record.

Family History

Search the Registry's records to piece together your own personal family history.

Horses and carts outside sandstone building.

Celebrate 170 years with us

The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages is celebrating 170 years of service with limited edition commemorative certificates and a special wedding collaboration with the State Library of NSW. 

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