Archives In Brief 117 - Maltese migration and settlement in NSW

Searching for records relating to individuals | Population records | Business records | Probate packets and records of death duties | Other sources | Access

Searching for records relating to individuals

Records in our collection are generally kept in the original order in which they were created by the responsible government agency. It is useful to consider what involvement an individual may have had with a particular government agency before embarking on a search for information about the individual.
Where records have been indexed by persons’ names, the index is noted in this AIB.

Convict records

State Records holds various records of arrival, tickets of leave, pardons and certificates of freedom for convicts, together with related records which document the convict experience.
Archives in Brief 2, Archives in Brief 34 and Archives in Brief 100 (PDF) are useful guides to convict research.

Example

Giuseppe Spitiere born in Malta in 1785 was convicted of desertion at a court-martial at La Valette on 21 April 1810 receiving a sentence of transportation for life. He arrived in Sydney per the transport Admiral Gambier (2) on 29 September 1811. On 26 March 1831, he obtained a ticket-of-leave for the district of Concord, and on 25 January 1837 for the district of Windsor. He received a Conditional Pardon on 1 February 1845.
For a comprehensive listing of convict records held by State Records, researchers should consult the Guide to Convicts and Convict Administration held in both reading rooms and also available for purchase.

Passenger and crew records

Passenger and crew records can be found in the series Passengers arriving (or Shipping lists or Passenger lists), 1855-1922, NRS 13278.
These records are described in more detail in Archives in Brief 1.

Examples

Michele Borg aged 16, a labourer, arrived in Sydney as a passenger per the Ormuz on 2 September 1922. His nationality is described as British (Maltese)
NRS 13278 [X464] Reel 2121
AB seamen Michele Costa and Antonio Freco, both aged 24, Maltese, are listed as crew for the ship Anna Digna arriving Sydney 2 May 1861.
NRS 13278 [X104] Reel 409
Crew reported as deserters from their vessels can be found in the series Government Gazettes (see Archives in Brief 90).

Example

John Williams, AB seaman, native of Malta, aged 28 appears on a list of deserters from HMS Iris in a notice dated 16 September 1858.
Some Maltese-born mariners obtained certificates of competency as masters, mates or engineers issued from the NSW Navigation Department.

Example

Joseph Daniels, born in Malta 28 Oct 1876 qualified as a Mate, Coast-trade ship, on 24 January 1906
NRS 10783, Reel 3718, COD 196
See Archives in Brief 21 for details of this register, and other series relating to mariners.
Post 1922 immigration records
The National Archives of Australia (NAA) hold post 1922 immigration records. Telephone: 1300 886 881.

Population records

The published report of the Census of the Colony of NSW taken in 1891 shows total numbers of natives of Malta and British Cyprus (placed together as one sub-group) numbering 119 (91 males and 28 females).
Collectors’ books for the 1891 and 1901 census, listing householders’ names, are available. See Short Guide 12 for more information. The guide to the 1891 Census and 1901 Census are available on our website.

Business records

The Registers of firms under the Registration of Firms Act of 1902 1903-22, NRS 12961 [2/8526-53].
The registers record the name of the firm; nature of the business; packet number of papers; place of business; statement number; date of registration; and details of persons carrying on the business.
The Registers of firms are being indexed and the index is available on our website.

Company records

The records of companies incorporated between 1875 and 1969, are arranged by a company number, which can be found in the Australian Securities Commission’s Dead Companies Index Pre-1969, available in both reading rooms.
A partial index to firms registered under the Registration of Firms Act of 1902, c.1904, NRS 12961, is available online.
More information on these records can be found in Archives Investigator (NRS 12951).
Other relevant records are listed in Archives Investigator under the agency title Corporate Affairs Commission.
Commercial directories such as Sands may also provide details of business names and addresses.

Insolvency and bankruptcy records

Insolvency and bankruptcy records include information about businesses and usually include a list of assets. See Archives in Brief 58.
Insolvency records 1842-1887 and Bankruptcy files 1888-1928 are indexed on our website.

Probate packets and records of death duties

Probate packets

The Supreme Court issues probate documents to certify that a will is valid, and authorising the executor named in the will to administer the estate.
Consult the Probate Index to locate the wills of those who died testate. Microfiche copies are available in both reading rooms.
We are progressively adding entries to Archives Investigator for those Probate Packets which have been transferred to State Records.
See Archives in Brief 84 for further information.

Example

Joseph Borg, a grocer, late of Surry Hills who died 6 Mar 1937, stipulated in his will that a portion of his estate was to go to his grandchild Charlie Borg of Malta. His estate was sworn at the sum of £1547/11/– net.
NRS 13661 Reel 4278

Deceased estate and Intestate records

Under the Stamp Duties Act 1880 and subsequent legislation no probates (wills) or letters of administration could be granted until a duty was paid or security given.
The Act also extended to the estates of people who died intestate (without a will), including those handled by the Supreme Court Curator of Intestate Estates. Death duties were abolished in 1981.
See Archives in Brief 29 for more information.

Other sources

Births, Deaths and Marriages

See the NSW Registry Births, Deaths and Marriages online indexes .

Coroners’ records

Registers of coronial enquiries can establish basic details such as cause of death, age and birthplace.
Detailed reports have not survived for the years 1828 to 1911. See Archives in Brief 4.

Example

The Register of Coronial Enquiries for the year 1929 shows that on 18 January 1929 an enquiry was held into the death in East Sydney of Anthony S Pecorella aged 24, born in Malta. The register records the verdict
NRS 343 Reel 2767

Court records

The records from the various court jurisdictions can be found in Archives Investigator under Courts of Petty Sessions, Clerk of the Peace and Supreme Court.

Divorce Records

See Archives in Brief 77 and Index to Divorce Case Papers, 1873-1930 in our website. New entries are being progressively added to this index.

Prison records

See Archives Investigator under the name of the gaol for details.
The Index to gaol photographs, which is being regularly updated, is on our website.
The index can be searched by birthplace, for example ‘Malta’.

Example

The gaol photograph description sheet for Michael Borg, convicted of unlawful assault at Broken Hill on 24 October 1928 records that he was born in Malta 14 August 1903 and arrived in NSW per the Ormuz in 1922 and was at the time of his conviction a labourer.
NRS 2057 [3/6018] Reel 5095, p155

Railway Passes

Registers of Free Railway Passes, 1880-92, NRS 5283 [4/4678-85] include information on nationality.
They have been indexed by Pastkeys (Fiche 6118-6126) and on CD (see the reading room computers).

Example

Jos(eph) Demac aged 20, a labourer, single, born in Malta received a pass on 19 February 1886 to travel to Wagga. He had been 3 weeks in NSW and 3 and half months in Queensland.
NRS 5283 [4/4681]
William Jones aged 39, a cook and labourer, married, born in Malta, received a pass on 21/7/1881 to travel to Bathurst. He had been 5 months in NSW.
NRS 5283 [4/4678]

Professions and Occupations

Short Guide 10 lists a selection of records relating to particular professions and occupations.

Examples

Edward Charles Keans, service number 3423, born 1857 in Malta was appointed a constable in the NSW police on 13 Feb 1879. His previous occupation was as a surveyors labourer.
NRS 10943 [8/3251] Reel 3043
See Archives in Brief 20 for further records of policemen.
Carmel Mula who was born in Malta on 20 September 1895 commenced railway service on 5 Jan 1951 as a labourer and retired on 11 March 1961.
NRS 12922
See Archives in Brief 54 for an introduction to State Rail records.

Land sales and transfers

Records relating to the purchase of land from the Crown can be found in Archives Investigator.
Records relating to the transfer of land between individuals are available from:

NSW Department of Lands
1 Prince Albert Road
Queen’s Square
Sydney   NSW   2000

School records

Files, from c.1876 to 1979, include administrative documents relating to government schools and may be useful for areas where Maltese resided. See Archives in Brief 26 and the Index to Schools and related records available on our website.
In addition, there are related records such as admission rolls, for some schools.
A list of these records, arranged alphabetically by the name of the school, is available in our reading rooms and as part of the online Index to Schools and related records.

Police Gazettes

Police Gazettes, 1852-1930, may contain entries and photographs of Maltese people.

Colonial Secretary’s records

The records of the Colonial Secretary are an important source of information for the involvement of government in Immigration and other matters in the period before Federation.

Examples

NSW Votes and Proceedings, 1883. Vol 2 includes correspondence to and from the Colonial Secretary ordered to be printed 17 April 1883 relating to the introduction of Maltese immigrants to NSW.
Colonial Secretary: Special bundles includes a copy of papers relating to grievances and claims of the Maltese nobility ordered to be printed by the House of Commons 11 July 1877.
NRS 906 [4/982.2]
For additional information on the records created by the Colonial Secretary see Archives Investigator and the online guides to the Colonial Secretary’s Correspondence. Archives in Brief 64, Archives in Brief 65 and Archives in Brief 104 (PDF) provide summary information.

The Governor

Gerald Strickland, 1st Baron Strickland 1861-1940, born in Malta, served as 24th Governor of NSW, in office 14 March 1913 – 27 October 1917. For the official papers of the Office of the Governor for the term of his service, see the published Guide held in both reading rooms.

Access

Researchers should consult the Register of Access Directions, to confirm the public availability of records. State Records’ staff can advise you on the availability of records if they are not listed on the register.