Inquests / Coronial Records Guide

Coroners

The most important function of a Coroner was to inquire into unnatural or sudden deaths, and Coroners were authorised to hold inquests in all cases of death if the body should be lying within the Police district or districts in which his jurisdiction applied. In the more remote Police districts of the Colony where no Coroner was situated, magistrates could take depositions and inquire into the circumstances of death but, in such cases, a Justice of the Peace had no authority to empanel a Jury, as had a Coroner.

In addition to this function, Coroners had a common law right to preserve general order, were authorised to hold inquests on bodies of all persons who died in prison and could also hold inquests respecting deaths taking place in asylums, hospitals or public institutions. In the event of the destruction of any property, real or personal, by fire the Coroner had jurisdiction to inquire into the cause and origin of such fire.

Under the Coroners Act, (No. 27, 1980) Coroners must hold an inquest when the deceased person is not identified, when the cause of death is not determined, when the person died as a result of a homicide, or if the person died in or attempting to escape from police custody. A coroner may also be directed to hold an inquest by the Attorney General or the State Coroner.

Reports of death

Deaths in certain circumstances must be reported to the Coroner. These circumstances include: sudden or unnatural deaths - occurring as a result of an accident, suicide or act of violence, deaths of persons in institutions or in police custody, and deaths within 24 hours of, or as a result of the administration of anaesthetic. These may or may not result in an inquest.

Inquests dispensed with

Not all reports of death result in an inquest. Under the current Act a coroner may dispense with an inquest if the circumstances around the death or fire are sufficiently disclosed to make a formal court hearing unnecessary.

Missing persons

Missing persons must be declared dead by the Coroner. This must occur before the estate can be settled.

How do you know if an inquest was held?

The death certificate

The death certificate should show whether an inquest was held, or if an inquest was 'dispensed with'. Indexes to deaths registered in New South Wales are available on the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages website.

Indexes to inquests

If the approximate date of death is known, it is possible to check indexes to inquests for the appropriate year, under the name of the deceased. An inquest is not always held at the time of death. You may need to look in the years following the known date of death or try looking for a report in the newspapers of the time.

Search the online Index to Coroners' Inquests for the years 1796-1824.

See below for indexes for 1826-1963.

Newspapers

You may locate a report about an inquest in a newspaper. State Records does not hold copies of newspapers. Digitised copies of some newspapers are available on the National Library of Australia's Trove website. The State Library of NSW or public libraries in the local area may also hold newspapers.

If there was foul play…

If there was foul play involved in a death, such as murder or manslaughter, Coroner's records can sometimes lead on to other court records. There may also be information in newspapers published at the time.

Inquests before 1825

Series	Title	Dates
NRS 5607 (Reels 2232-2233) *ARK	Judge Advocate: Reports of inquests The volumes contain reports from coroners on inquests held throughout the Colony, including a few held in Van Diemen's Land and one at Port Macquarie. The deaths were mostly caused by drowning, apoplexy or a Visitation of God. There are also occasional murders, thieves killed in the course of a robbery and spearings by Aborigines (mostly in the Bathurst district). See the online index » Item List Reel Dates Item 2232 1796-1820 [2/8286] 2233 1821-1822 [2/8287] 2233 1823 [2/8288] 2233 Jan-Apr 1824 [2/8289] 2233 Jun 1828 [2/8290]	1796-Apr 1824, Jun 1828
-	Colonial Secretary's Papers *ARK	1788-1825
NRS 1024 (Reels 6021, 2928)	Colonial Secretary: Proceedings of coroner's inquests Reports of some of the inquests held in the colony, arranged alphabetically by the names of the deceased. They provide details of the names of the coroner, the deceased, the jury and a record of depositions and the jury's finding. Note: The proceedings of inquests which returned a finding of murder by a named person are not listed here.	1809-1822

Inquests 1826-1963

Indexes / Registers

For some years, for example May 1859-Mar 1864, indexes are the only surviving records relating to inquests. The Guide to Using the Archives Resources Kit and Births, Deaths and Marriages Guide provide full listings of these records.

Earlier registers show district, before whom inquest held, when and where held, date received, name of deceased, finding and date death certificate required. The later registers also record age of deceased, locality of birth, locality of death, and cash or property owned at the time of death. Though the registers can sometimes provide additional information, they usually reflect that on a standard death certificate.

See the Inquest Papers section below for a list of papers surviving for this period.

Where the inquest papers have not survived, the newspapers of the day can be a valuable source of additional information.

Series	Title	Dates
-	Card index to inquests This index was compiled by State Records staff and is accessible in the reading room. It complements the following series NRS 344. 1839-44 lists surnames A-G only.	1834-1836, 1839-1844, 1852-1858, 1867-1868, 1870-1875
NRS 344	Attorney General & Justice: Indexes to registers of coroners inquests *ARK This series is incomplete - the registers are only partially indexed. Prior to 1899, indexes are located in the front of 4/6611.2 (H-Z only) and 4/6612 only; the remaining available indexes for this period, which are separate volumes, are to be found on the following reels. This series is complemented by the card index to inquests, listed above. Item List Dates Reel Item Register Indexed May 1859-Aug 1866 2926 4/6621 [4/6614] 1869 2926 4/8541 [4/6614] 1876-1879 2926 4/6622 [4/6615-6616] 1880-1883 2926 4/6623 [4/6616-6618] Jan 1884-Aug 1885 2926 4/6624 [4/6618] Jul 1885-Feb 1887 2926 4/6625 [4/6618-6619] (N.B. The 1869 index is located at the end of the reel) Mar 1887-Dec 1888 2927 part 4/6626 [4/6619] 1889-1891 2224 5/7934 [4/6619-6620] 1892-1894 2224 5/7935 [4/6620] 1895-1898 2927 part 4/6627 [5/7936] (now X2084) It should be noted that the first index on Reel 2926 (4/6621) is the only record available for the period May 1859 to March 1864 as the register has not survived. From 1899 to June 1942 an index is located at the front of each register (5/7937 [now X2085], X2086-2091 and 3/955-961).	1859-1898
NRS 343	Attorney General & Justice: Register of Coroners inquests and magisterial inquiries *ARK Between 1899 and 1942 an index is included in the front of each register Registers have not survived for the period May 1859-Mar 1864 (although index entries may be found). Please note that the following registers are incorrectly labelled on Reel 2921: 4/6611.1 as 4/6611; 4/6611.2 as 4/6612; and 4/6612 as 4/6613. Item List Dates Reel Nos. Item 1834-1836 2921   [4/6611.1] May 1838-Nov 1844 2921 1-2742 [4/6611.2] Jan 1845-Nov 1852 2921 2842-6898 [4/6612] Nov 1852-Apr 1859 2921 6899-11945 [4/6613] Apr 1864-Oct 1870 2922 17121-20069; [4/6614]     67/1-70/776   Oct 1870-Feb 1877 2923 70/777-77/180 [4/6615] Feb 1877-Jun 1880 2923 77/181-80/607 [4/6616] Jul 1880-Dec 1882 2924 80/630-82/1322 [4/6617] 1883-1886 2924 83/1-86/1315 [4/6618] 1887-1890 87/ 2925 1-90/1391 [4/6619] 1891-1894 2925 91/1-94/1330 [4/6620] 1895-1898 2225 95/1-98/1392 [5/7936] (now X2084) 1899-1901 2225 99/1-01/1499 [5/7937] (now X2085) 1902-1907 2763 02/1-07/1287 [X2086-2087] 1908-1913 2764 08/1-13/1769 [X2088-2089] 1914-1920 2765 14/1-20/1449 [X2090-2091] 1921-1927 2766 21/1-27/2040 [3/955-956] 1928-1933 2767 28/1-33/1930 [3/957-958] 1934-Jun 1940 2768 34/1-40/969 [3/959-960] Jul 1940-Jun 1942 2769 40/970-42/986 [3/961]	1834-1942
NRS 346	Attorney General & Justice: Card register to inquests The cards are arranged alphabetically for each six-month period.	Jul 1942-Mar 1963
NRS 1783	Sydney City Coroner: Registers of inquests and inquiries Item list Dates Reel Item 1862-68 1391 [2/767] 1869-31 Aug 1876 1391 [2/768] 1 Sep 1876-1881 1391 [2/769] 1882-87 1392 [2/770] 1888-91 1393 [2/771] 1892-98 1394 [2/772] 1889-29 Sep 1903 1395 [2/773] 2 Oct 1903-12 May 1909 1396 [2/774] 13 May 1909-3 Apr 1914 1396 (to 1911) [2/775] 3 Apr 1914-31 Jan 1919   [2/776] 31 Jan 1919-30 Apr 1923   [2/777] 30 Apr 1923-4 Nov 1926   [2/778]	1862-1926
NRS 1784	Sydney City Coroner: Index to registers of inquests and inquiries Item list Dates Reel Item 1883-1903 1390 [2/780] 1904-25 1390 (to 1911) [2/781]	1883-1925
NRS 1785	Sydney Coroner: Registers of inquests dispensed with Item list Dates Item 1882-89 [7/1475] 1890-93 [7/1476] Sep 1893-1903 [7/1477] 1912-18 [7/1478] 1919-27 [7/1479]	1882-1927

Inquest papers

Information found within the papers may include particulars relating to the deceased, such as age and locality of death, circumstances surrounding the death, copy of the coroner's findings, names of members of the jury and also names of witnesses and their testimonies. When an inquest was related to a fire, information given may include the address of the dwelling and the name of the occupants and owner.

The papers can be a valuable source of information and may include statements from witnesses, police and medical officers. Information may also include a record of personal items found on the deceased and occasionally photographs of the death scene or the victim. For this reason, they may be distressing to the researcher.

If further court action arose out of the inquest, the inquest papers may be filed with the later court papers.

The inquest files are mostly indexed and the indexes are listed above. The files concerning reports of deaths, inquests dispensed with and magisterial inquiries are not indexed. These files are listed in date order. The lists are available in the reading room.

Series	Title	Dates
NRS 345	Coroners' inquest papers (Files concerning inquests, magisterial inquiries and inquests dispensed with) Inquest papers have survived for some localities in 1851. A small sample of files from 1916, 1918-1920, 1921-1939 have survived. View a list of surviving papers for 1916-1939 »  The bulk of the papers from 1940-Dec 1963 have survived. A card index exists for inquests held between July 1942-March 1963. When the date of an inquest is known from a death certificate it may be possible for staff to check the index.	1851-1963
NRS 313	Letters received A number of files relating to inquests are included with the correspondence. These inquests were passed on to the Attorney General because the Coroner had brought down an open verdict or a reward was offered to bring forward more information	1918-1920

Inquests for specific localities

Occasionally there are records for specific localities. Where these survive, they are listed in the catalogue. See below in 'Other Records' for what types of records may have survived.

Series	Title	Dates
NRS 1757 (Reel 2667)	Coroners and Morgue: Verdicts in inquests - County of Buckinghamshire, Van Diemen's Land, May 1815-Sep 1819; County of Cumberland (NSW), Jun 1828 Verdicts in inquests, recording dates of death and of inquisition, name of deceased, circumstances and cause of death. Each verdict is signed by the coroner and members of the jury. In some cases for Buckinghamshire and in all cases for Windsor depositions are also included.	May 1815-Sep 1819; Jun 1828
NRS 1780 (Reel 3146)	Port Macquarie: Register of inquests and magisterial inquiries	Jan 1839-Sep 1855
NRS 1764 (Reel 3147)	Dubbo: Register of inquests and magisterial inquiries	1904-1917
NRS 1769 (Reel 2667)	Lower Hawkesbury: Verdicts in Inquests	1888-1913
NRS 1772 (Reel 2242)	O'Connell Plains: Coroner's Notebook	27 Oct 1883-21 Nov 1889
NRS 1775 (Reel 3147)	Parramatta, Silverton and Singleton: Register of inquests and inquiries held by R.H. Mathews	26 Jul 1884-9 Oct 1894
NRS 1778 (Reel 3147)	Penrith: Register of inquests and magisterial inquiries.	10 Jun 1914-8 Oct 1928
NRS 1796	North Sydney: Registers of bodies received A register each entry of which was apparently filled in by the person (usually a policeman) depositing the body. Information is recorded under the following headings: number and date, name and sex, age, where born and occupation, when and where found, remarks giving full personal description (in cases in which bodies had not been identified), and a statement of wounds or injuries appearing thereon. The entry was signed by the person depositing the body. Item list Dates Reel Item 29 Oct 1881-18 Oct 1891 2234 [3/2189] 8 Jan 1891-2 Jun 1904 2234 [3/2190] 3 Jun 1904-1 Aug 1908 2235 [3/2191]	1881-1908
NRS 1797	North Sydney: Post Mortem Registers, 1881-1908  Item list Dates Reel Item 19 Nov 1881-25 Jul 1891 2236 [3/2192] 1 Feb 1892-22 May 1903 2236 [3/2193] 25 May 1903-1 Sep 1903 2237 [3/2195] 2 Sep 1903-6 May 1905 2237 [3/2196] 6 May 1905-8 Feb 1907 2238 [3/2197] 9 Feb 1907-25 Mar 1907 2238 [3/2198] 29 Mar 1907-17 Jun 1908 2238 [3/2199]	1881-1908
NRS 1798 [4/6589]	North Sydney: Index to Post Mortem registers	1907-1908
NRS 1799	South Sydney: Register of bodies received A register each entry of which was apparently filled in and signed by the person (usually a policeman) depositing the body. Information is recorded under the following headings: number and date, name and sex, age, where born and occupation, when and where found, remarks giving full personal description (in cases in which bodies had not been identified), and a statement of all wounds or injuries appearing thereon. Item list Dates Reel Item 2 Oct 1881-23 Aug 1892 2239 [3/2200] 27 Aug 1892-13 Jun 1901 2239 [3/2201]	1881-1901
NRS 1800	South Sydney: Post mortem registers The registers contain entries under the following headings: date of death; date of autopsy; name of doctor making autopsy; name of medical attendant of deceased, if known; name of deceased; birthplace; age and occupation; previous history and habits of deceased; circumstances connected with the death of the deceased; special remarks, where necessary; post mortem appearances-giving full description of the body, and of all external marks or injuries, if any; external description; result of post mortem; cause of death; signature of doctor; and date. Item list Dates Reel Item 10 Oct 1881-8 Jul 1889 2240 [3/2202] 13 Jul 1889-23 Dec 1898 2241 [3/2203] 25 Dec 1898-13 Jun 1901 2241 [3/2204]	10 Oct 1881-13 Jun 1901

Related records

Pharmacy Board

Series	Title	Dates
NRS 10914 (Reels 3147-3148)	Register of deaths by poisoning Information provided may include the name of the deceased, date of death, place of death, poison, how poison was administered and remarks.	1924-1939

Other records

The following are descriptions of typical records that may survive for specific localities. 

Registers of bodies received

The registers show the number of the body and date received, name, sex, age, birthplace, occupation, where and when found, remarks, description and a statement of wounds or injuries.

Post mortem registers

Post mortem registers list the date of death, date of autopsy, doctor and medical attendant, name of deceased, birthplace, age, occupation, previous history and habits of the deceased, circumstances surrounding the death, remarks, external description, result of post mortem, cause of death, doctor's signature and date.

Internal examination registers

These record the name of the deceased, date of autopsy, cause of death, age, occupation, birthplace, date of death, by whom identified, circumstances relating to the death, and details of medical examination.

External examination registers

These may provide the name, age and birthplace of the deceased, occupation, date and results of examination, remarks and signature of the pathologist.

Further details

For information about the current coronial system in New South Wales, check the NSW Coroners Court website. 

*ARK signifies that a copy of the record or guide is part of the Archives Resources Kit and is held by the community access points.