It has been more than a quarter of a century since the Mersey group first met and became the Devonport Branch of a wider group called the Genealogical Society of Tasmania. In 2000 the GST became known as the Tasmanian Family History Society Inc. and in 2011 the Devonport Branch changed its name to the TFHS Inc. Mersey Branch.

This change was made to more accurately reflect the region that their branch covers.

The Mersey Branch’s geographical region is bordered by Deloraine in the east and Penguin in the west and their central focus is the Branch Library, situated in the main street of Latrobe.

The Mersey Branch library holds an extensive collection of books, cemetery transcriptions, microform and computer-based resources covering all Australian states. There are also overseas records on hand.

A recent collection of newspapers includes the Advocate (1984-1997) and Examiners (1957-1972).

The library is staffed by willing and friendly volunteers who will be pleased to help visitors and members further their family and local history research.

The Mersey Branch has an ongoing commitment to collecting local material and indexing records in their collection, the most recent ones being local church records on microfilm and local newspapers.

Their holdings include:

NATIONAL
Early Australian Electoral Rolls Volume 1
NSW 1903, Tasmania 1903 and Western Australia 1901

TASMANIA
Federation Index on CD-ROM (births to 1919, marriages and deaths to 1930)
Pioneer Index [Microfiche and CD-ROM] 1803 – 1899
Births 1900 – 1905
Deaths 1900 – 1919 and Marriages 1900 – 1919
Tasmanian Convicts Index on CD-ROM
Index to Tombstones and Memorial Inscriptions from cemeteries from all parts of Tasmania [TAMIOT]
Assisted Immigration Records 1841 – 1889
Index to Passenger Arrivals and Departures from early Launceston Newspapers 1829 – 1850
Unassisted Immigrants and Coastal Passengers to Hobart 1829 – 1865
Index to Tasmanians in the Victorian Police Gazette 1853 – 1893
Hobart Town Gazettes on CD-ROM 1844 & 1870

NEW SOUTH WALES

Births, Marriages, Deaths and Burials pre 1856 – 1905
NSW Pioneer Index, Federation Series 1889 – 1945
Between the Wars Index 1919 -1945
Probate Index 1800 – 1985
Rookwood Cemetery Index
Index to passengers and Crew In and Out of Sydney 1830 – 1840
Convicts to NSW 1788-1812 (CD-ROM)
Convicts to NSW 1788 – 1875

QUEENSLAND
Pioneer Index 1829-1889 (CD)
Births 1850 – 1914
Deaths 1856 – 1919
Marriages 1829 – 1919
Transmission of Real Estate by Death 1878 – 1937
Dutton Park Cemetery Index
Ipswich Cemetery Index
Lone graves Index
Mt. Gravatt Cemetery Index

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Births 1842 – 1922 fiche and 1842 – 1906 (CD-ROM)
Deaths 1842-1970 fiche and 1842-1915 (CD-ROM)
Marriages 1842 – 1937 (fiche and CD-ROM)
Biographical Index of South Australia 1836 – 1885

VICTORIA
Pioneer Index [Microfiche and CD-ROM] 1837 – 1888
Federation Index [CD-ROM] 1889 – 1901
Edwardian Index BDM 1902-1913 (CD)
Great War Index BDM 1914-1920 (CD)
Marriages Index 1921 – 1942 Death Index 1921 – 1985 (CD)
Marine Index BDM 1858-1920 (CD)
Inquest Index 1840-1985 (CD)
Victorian Police Gazette 1853 – 1870
Assisted Immigrants from UK to Victoria 1839 – 1871
Passenger Lists from British Ports to Victoria 1852 – 1859
Passenger Lists from Victoria, Australia to New Zealand 1852 – 1870

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Births 1841 – 1905
Deaths 1841 – 1980
Marriages 1841 – 1965

The library is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10.00 am – 3.00 pm.

Visitors are most welcome for a daily fee of $10.00. There is an additional small charge for both members and visitors for the use of the microform and computer records. Photocopying facilities are available.

Postal Address:
Secretary
PO Box 267 Latrobe Tas. 7307