More than 2.2 million names in the database so far.
Biographical Database of Australia
- BDA is a new research tool for historians and genealogists comprising transcripts & indexes of original records and published biographies of deceased individuals who arrived, or were born in, Australia. Advanced search function now available.
- New in 2023: Stage 1 of a major convict record transcription project: full text of all NSW tickets of leave 1810-1814, pardons 1810-1819, certificates of freedom 1810-1833 (some with details not on indents) + new records of absconded convicts to 1841, register of convicts at Moreton Bay Queensland 1824-1827. Stage 1 of a new immigration project: full text of all NSW assisted immigration records 1842 (1843-1851 to follow). Full transcript of 5,723 records from the Randwick NSW Asylum for Destitute Children 1852-1915. Profiles of 1,149 soldiers of the 50th Regiment stationed in NSW: Sydney, Georges River, Longbottom, Parramatta, Windsor, Liverpool, Bong Bong, Berrima, Wingello, Illawarra + TAS: Ross, Flinders Island, Westbury, Avoca, Perth, George Town. Bathurst & Central West NSW Catholic baptisms & burials 1839-1844 + St Lawrence Sydney C of E baptisms, Biographies of members of the Free Presbyterian Church of Australia.
- BDA now has extensive NSW Court records 1788-1830, arrival records of immigrants to NSW/Vic assisted/bounty 1832-1851, most convicts to NSW/Qld/Vic 1788-1840s, most Tasmanian colonists 1803-c1824, the only full online transcript of UNESCO nominated NSW 1828 census, NSW muster/BDM records 1788-1830s+, most soldiers stationed in Australia 1788-c1840, Norfolk Is records 1788-1855, 160,000 Colonial Secretary records + 31,000 full text biographies, 10,000 Sydney burials & inscriptions 1819-1901.
- View a sample biography to see an accurate level of detail for each.
View a sample biography to see an accurate level of detail for each.
BDA : A non-profit project.
- May 2023: Latest updates:
Total now online 2.1 million.
12 NEW datasets: new records now online. Includes Randwick NSW Asylum for Destitute Children 1852-1915, extensive new records from the NSW convict system 1825-1841 & parish registers from Sydney & Bathurst NSW
See View Release Details
More datasets in the pipeline. - BDA links records of life events to create a Biographical Report. From one report, subscribers can hyperlink to another biography, to spouses, parents, children, witnesses, employers, employees and so on, through the entire database. See Sample.
- Future stages of BDA will add more data from all states and territories, expanding from early records towards the present, including Aboriginal people, convicts and immigrants of all nations. Coming soon: User contributions and corrections function.
- Cultural advice: BDA contains text quoted from historical published and manuscript sources which may contain terms or reflect views that were acceptable in some Australian or colonial cultural contexts at the time they were written down, but may no longer be considered appropriate and do not reflect the views of the Biographical Database of Australia.
- BDA is committed to acknowledging the First Peoples of Australia.