D P S Melbourne Family History and Genealogy Group

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D P S Melbourne Family History and Genealogy Group We are a Family History Group of over thirty years. DPS Family History Group began 29 years ago, we have no joining fee or annual subscription.

Our motto is "Preserving Our Past for the Future", There are no membership fees, we are a not for profit group, simply researchers assisting researchers. We ask for a small donation per meeting to cover the cost of tea, coffee and milk. We also ask that each person brings along a plate of goodies to share for afternoon tea. We meet at Watsonia Library. Meetings are held from January to November on the Fourth Sunday from 1 pm doors open Meeting is from 1.30pm o to 4.00pm. At each meeting we may have a Guest Speaker from 2pm or help sessions on various subjects i.e. Computer, Family History or new Tech Products. At each meeting after the talk or help sessions and afternoon tea we have a discussion time where each person can speak about their genealogical finds or ask for assistance with their Family History. Our members with their vast range of knowledge in Genealogy are our best resource. One of our objectives is to encourage people who are new to Family History and help them make connections with as yet undiscovered ancestors. After attending three meetings new members are invited to subscribe to our mailing list which is very active with helpful hints and Family History information. Whether you are new to Family History or an experienced researcher you are most welcome to join us.

With Remembrance Day on the horizon, going through some papers I found this poem that I had kept.
04/11/2026

With Remembrance Day on the horizon, going through some papers I found this poem that I had kept.

Queen Victoria Market - This is a newspaper article that was published in 2016 that may be of interest to some. It talk...
01/11/2026

Queen Victoria Market - This is a newspaper article that was published in 2016 that may be of interest to some. It talks about the original Melbourne burial ground underneath the current market.

https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/1805122Family Search Victoria Inquest Files 1840-1925 Although you can...
01/11/2026

https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/1805122
Family Search Victoria Inquest Files 1840-1925
Although you cannot download, the ability to search with varied parameters can be helpful.

Inquest Deposition Files created by the Coroners Court of Victoria. The original records are located in the Public Record Office of Victoria (PROV) in North Melbourne, Australia.

Inquest in Victoria talk DPS meeting OctoberThank you to all who attended. Just posting a few links of interest from my...
01/11/2026

Inquest in Victoria talk DPS meeting October
Thank you to all who attended. Just posting a few links of interest from my talk that may be helpful to any followers of this page.
Note : Inquest files contain documents and in later years photographic evidence of cases that were heard by the Coroner's Court. The contents in some files may be distressing.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/inquests-and-other-coronial-records
The earliest inquests in Victoria start at 1840. There may be a few prior that will be mixed into Court/Police records from 1836, these were Magisterial Inquires. The first Coroner was appointed in Victoria in 1840. According to my research a body or body part was required prior to 1970 to hold an inquest. Death certificates usually indicate if an inquest was held or not. In PROV inquests from 1840 to 1937 are digitized, you can view up to 1985 at PROV as they are also open to public access. From 1985 to 2003 they are closed to the public. Remember Trove newspaper archive is a great place to also check.

24/10/2026

Discovering Inquest Records in Victoria - Have now collated and fine-tuned this presentation for today.
Am sitting here now listening to the lovely rain in Melbourne after being away for the week in Shepparton visiting family.

DPS Goup meeting 25th October at 1.00 pm in the Watsonia Library function room. A presentation will be given on discovering if your ancestor had an inquest. It will cover the history of, where to find indexes to check and how to obtain.
Free to attend, presentation starts at 1.30.

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4 Ibbottson Street
Melbourne, VIC
3087

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