Every family has a story. For some, those early chapters were written right here, forged in the timber mills, cultivated in the dairy pastures, or lived out amidst the karri forests and rugged coastlines of the Margaret River region.
But as time passes, the finer details of those lives can begin to fade. A name becomes just a name on a family tree, a face in an unmarked photograph becomes a mystery. That is where the journey of ancestry research begins, and it is exactly where the Margaret River and Districts Historical Society can help.
Whether your ancestors were pioneering settlers, early merchants, or families who simply passed through and left their mark on the shire, their echoes remain. Our archives hold the pieces to your family’s puzzle, waiting to be put back together.
The Margaret River and District Historical Society can help bring those stories back to life.
The Treasures in Our Archives
Our collections contain a wealth of information gathered over decades from local families, community organisations, government records, and historical publications. Hidden among thousands of documents may be a photograph of a long-forgotten relative, a newspaper article describing an important event in their life, or records that reveal where they lived, worked, and contributed to the district.
To help you paint a complete picture of how your ancestors lived, worked, and contributed to our region, our dedicated archive holds a rich collection of local records, including:
- Local newspaper clippings and articles
- Historic photographs and image collections
- Family history records and genealogical research material
- Death and funeral notices
- Cemetery and burial records
- Shire and local government information
- School, community and sporting records
- Oral history interviews and personal recollections
- Property and settlement information
- Historical maps, documents and publications
How We Can Guide Your Search
Ancestry research can sometimes feel like looking for a needle in a haystack, but you do not have to do it alone.
Our passionate volunteers are experienced in navigating the Society’s extensive archives. When you reach out to us with a name, a date, or even just a vague family rumor, we can point you toward the right physical records, help cross-reference local historical contexts, and assist in uncovering the stories that standard online genealogy databases often miss.
Start Your Journey
The National Library of Australia has published a very helpful family history research guide to start tracing your ancestry.
Reach out to the Margaret River Historical Society with the details you already know, no matter how small, and let our team help you turn the pages of your family’s Margaret River story. Your family's Margaret River story may be waiting to be discovered.
Please use the contact form to get in touch with the Margaret River & Districts Historical Society or visit us at The Old Settlement.