What is local history?

• The events of the past that impact a certain area; often includes family histories

• A local history is a resource looking at a particular town or area within a country

• The story of what has happened before in a small area

• Local history is the study of the history of a relatively small geographical area; typically a specific settlement, parish or county

What does that mean here in Australia?

Generally, local history is the domain of local government/councils and the local historical groups or associations. These local historians collect information about a relatively small geographical area. Local councils will collect information pertaining to its Local Government Area or LGA, for short; historical groups may collect information for the LGA or limit themselves to particular suburb(s).

What types of information does your local council hold?

There is a wealth of information reflecting the variety of services provided by local councils;

• General history about people, places and events of the locality

• Council minutes and reports

• Environmental studies

• Local newspapers

• Photographs

• Genealogy databases

• House and family histories

• Local maps and plans

• Local photographs and slides

• Oral histories

• Archives of community organisations and individuals

How do I access this information?

To provide a central point of dissemination of this information, most councils provide access through the local public library service, however some have dedicated local collections with special history librarians commonly called Local History Librarians to assist you.