With such a rich history from the boom times of the goldrush, Bendigo has seen many people call Bendigo home over the years.

There was a population explosion in Bendigo during the goldrush. People came from across the world to seek their fortune in Bendigo in the mid to late 1800’s. Hopeful miners came from China, Germany, England, Wales, Hungary and all across the globe.

This migration of people to the goldfields and the later dispersion of people from the goldfields to other parts of Australia and beyond is the reason why it has been said many times that one in four Australian’s have heritage links to the goldfields region. This very fact has lead to a great interest in genealogy in Bendigo and the smaller villages in the area.

The Bendigo Regional Genealogical Society is an active research group. Their records are accessible at the Goldfields Research Centre and the Bendigo Archive Centre which is located at 259 Hargreaves St, on the first floor of the Bendigo Library. For more details please visit their website here.

The society will undertake local research for those who are unable to visit the library in person. Contact PO Box 1049, Bendigo 3552 to request research from our volunteer members and remember to always enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with any correspondence to the society. Fees are charged as per the Bendigo Regional Genealogical Society website.  For more information on the Bendigo Regional Genealogical Society visit http://home.vicnet.net.au/~brgs/

The Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies (AIGS) Bendigo Family History Group now give voluntary help to members of the public who ask for assistance in tracing their families, and to meet the Bendigo members when they are in attendance at the Goldfields Research Centre on Wednesdays from 11am to 4pm and on Saturday from 10am to 1pm (see Bendigo Family History Group for further information).

The Goldfields Research Centre is a must for genealogical research, and cemetery walks offer another avenue of research.

For Chinese history, visit the Golden Dragon Musuem library and research centre. It houses a collection of records including immigration, cemetery, council rates, family tree, and various research papers. Also, available for viewing in our reference library is a collection of local history publications.