Researching Tasmania's Heritage 
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes, staff can help either in person in Hobart (link to iZone find us) or online (link to TAHO online request form), but there are limits to the amount of time that staff can spend on individual enquiries. You may need to wait several weeks for a response to your enquiry. For extended research queries a private local researcher can help and there are a range of guides to help you.

Email us and we will send you a list of private researchers.

You can access most archival records but some records have restrictions on them, usually because they contain personal information. More

Archives are the records created and received by an individual or an organisation in the conduct of their affairs. Not all records are permanently preserved as archives; only those which are have enduring value because of the information they contain or as evidence of the functions and responsibilities of their creator.

Yes. We need to see 2 pieces of identification with your current address. One of these pieces of identification must have a photograph of you.

A selection of highly used items have been digitised, and this is an ongoing project. It will never be possible to digitise all our records because there are too many.

If an item is available online a view online option is shown on the right hand side of your screen after a catalogue search.

In many cases you can order a copy. Please ask us.

In most cases you will be able to access records within 30 minutes, but in some cases archive items are held at our repository at Berriedale and need to be transported to where you can see them in Hobart and you will need to request items in advance. 

See the brief guides for a listing of all of our major and useful series of records.

We hold a huge range of resources for people researching their Tasmanian family history, plus some resources for Tasmanians researching their ancestors from anywhere in the world. More...