The Governor
Sir Gerald Strickland
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 the reading room.
Convict Records
We hold various convict records of arrival, tickets of leave, pardons and certificates of freedom, together with related records which document the convict experience.
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.
Passengers 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 the Immigration and Shipping Guide.
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 NRS 10958 Police Gazettes.
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
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.
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. We are progressively adding entries to the catalogue for those Probate Packets which have been transferred to us.
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
Coroners’ records
Registers of coronial enquiries can establish basic details such as cause of death, age and birthplace.
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
Prison records
The Index to Gaol Photographs 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
NRS 5283, Registers of Free Railway Passes, 1880-1892, [4/4678-4685] 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
Follow the tag "Professions and Occuaptions" for a list 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
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
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.
Example
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]
Other sources in the Archives
- Business and Company REcords
- Colonial Secretary
- Bankruptcy and Insolvency
- Deceased Estate Files
- Intestate Files
- Courts
- Divorce
- Land
- School records
- Police Gazettes
