Ballarat & District Genealogical Society Inc

Ballarat & District Genealogical Society Inc Please note our collection at the Eureka Centre (M.A.D.E) in Eureka street. Opening times are the same as PROV Ballarat, which is 10am to 4:30 pm Mon - Thurs.

We welcome all members but please note it may take 24 hours for membership approval. Ballarat and District Genealogical Society is in Victoria Australia. We produce a Newsletter every 1/4, conduct Research, and produce data bases for research. If you are coming to Ballarat and need the help of BDGS please give at least 10 days notice. Our Society is run only by volunteers and someone will need to be arranged to meet you.

17/06/2026

The next general meeting of the BDGS Inc. will be held Wednesday 24th June, 7.30 pm at the Ballarat North Community Centre. Armstrong Street North.
The speaker will be Dianne Gow from the Ballarat branch of the National Trust of Victoria. She will be speaking on the work of the Trust in our region and the publications that have been produced.
All welcome.

10/06/2026

One to put in your diary:
Gisborne Genealogical group is holding a seminar. Details below.

Mapping Family History Seminar

Our Gisborne Genealogical group seminar for 2026 will be on Saturday 29th August 2026 at the Gisborne Uniting Church, Brantome st, Gisborne from 9.30 -3.30.
The cost is $20 Members $25 Non Members
If you would like more information and to make payment contact Julie Dworak
[email protected]
We are very fortunate to have very knowledgeable and experienced speakers who will share different aspects of using maps in our research.
Speakers

1.Dr Sue Walter- Professional historian and is the Archives Coordinator at Bendigo Regional Archives Centre. Sue will talk about maps at the Public Record of Victoria (PROV), focussing on Parish Maps and how to interpret and follow up the information within them.

2. Sarah Ryan- Coordinator of State Library of Victoria’s Map Collection. Sarah will provide an overview of the focus of the SLV map collection and how it might be useful for family history and online maps that can be accessed from the online data bases. Accompanied by Dr Kevin Molloy, the Manuscripts Collection Manager at SLV and a specialist in Irish history
3. Meg Bate - Library Digital Resources Manager at the Genealogical Society of Victoria (GSV. Meg will discuss using maps for overseas family history research in general terms as well as advising what resources the GSV has.
4. David Down- Education Co-ordinator at GSV will give a presentation on his experiences using maps to trace his ancestors in Devon with particular reference to the Tithe Apportionment maps of the early 1840s.

01/06/2026

It has come to my attention that the wording on the email for renewal of the coming financial year's membership that has just been sent out has upset a member.

It should be seen as payment for the next financial year starting 1st July 26 until 30th June 27. People who join much later in the year should pay a pro rata amount.

Apologies for any misunderstanding.

A ninety year old gentleman (Frank Keoghan) has contacted me, wanting to know who are the people in the photo below and ...
31/05/2026

A ninety year old gentleman (Frank Keoghan) has contacted me, wanting to know who are the people in the photo below and what was the occasion. Kathy Harty, who lived in Landsborough St) is marked. She worked at Myer's Ballarat from Nov. 1961 until March 1966. She and Frank were married for 56 years. He would dearly love to know who they are and whether it was a work function or a wedding.

PS. Frank had the most charming Irish brogue!

31/05/2026

The 26/27 financial year invoices for BDGS annual subscriptions will be sent out on the first of June. When making payment please remember to use an identifier eg. name or invoice number and renewal. Our subscription for membership remains at $25 for single and $35 for family.

If you no longer wish to remain a member please email [email protected].

Our LINK Editor is always looking for articles to include in our quarterly editions:- A brick wall you have managed to break down, a convict you have discovered, a photo from the past.
Let me know and I will pass it on.

25/05/2026

The next meeting of the BDGS will be held Wednesday 27th May at the Ballarat North Community Centre, 7.30pm.

Topic for the night- Researching members of the Victorian Police Force and using the Police gazettes.

All welcome.

11/05/2026

An email was sent by a Kathy Stone who lives in England. She is seeking any relatives/descendants of the Hines family who are mentioned below. A Walter and Jared Hines lived in the Ballarat area.

If you recognise these names your details can be passed on.
Message me.

Dear Sir or Madam

I live in England UK and trying to local relatives in Australia. My great, great, grandfathers son Thomas THOMPSON b1872 in Northumberland England emigrated to Australia with his family in 1928. I believe they settled in Melbourne Victoria.

Thomas had a daughter Mary Jane THOMPSON who married Charles Edward HINES in England in 1913. They had 4 children.

Edward James Thompson Hines b1914 who died on 29.3.1994 in Geelong Victoria.

Dorothy Ann Hines b1915 who died in Melbourne.

Jared Johnson Hines b1917 who died on 6.8.1980 in Fitzroy Victoria.

Walter Hines b1922 who I believe died in Australia. I have cause to believe that Walter ‘ Wally’ HINES died on 29.4.2001 in Kelaston Wendouree Victoria. I am wondering whether this is my relative.

I have been in touch with Research GSV and they have given me your e mail address.

Obviously if you have any way of trying to find out whether I have any living relatives in your area it would be very much appreciated. I am happy for you to forward my address to any relative accordingly.

Many Thanks
Kathy Stone

05/05/2026

Our May edition of LINK has been sent out to financial members. Please let me know if you haven't received it, after you have checked your spam.
Our editor, Barb Harris, is always on the lookout for a story. You can get in touch per me, [email protected]

01/05/2026

A payment has been made to our BDGS account for a most unusual amount by an A Beaumont on the 13th March. It does not match up with our single member subscription $25 or for an hour's research. It is possibly for a pro rata for family subscription of $35.

If you have made this payment please send your receipt and tell me what it is for?
[email protected]

29/04/2026

If you are thinking of a dna test, now is the time. Ancestry have a sale on it $29 and no postage, This is the usual price of postage. I was also able to get 3mths World sub for $1. It added this to the sub I already have. I have never seen it so cheap, I got some for $59 last year but still $29 postage. Make sure you have logged out of your account first for this to generate.. In my opinion Ancestry is the best test with the largest database of testers. I do not like advertising here but this sale is wonderful.
You need to log out of your account and go public to get the cheaper price.

Address

P. O. Box 1809 Shop 7 Norwich Plaza, Ballarat Central
Ballarat, VIC
3350

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+61467241352

Website

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