Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923

This data collection contains unassisted and assisted immigrant passenger lists to Victoria, Australia for various years between 1839 and 1923. “Unassisted immigrants” are individuals whose passages were not subsidized or paid for by another person or through another agency.

This collection is comprised of four different records series from the Public Record Office of Victoria. They are:

• Inwards overseas passenger lists from UK ports to Victoria, 1852-1889, 1900-1923


• Inwards overseas passenger lists from foreign ports to Victoria, 1852-1879, 1900-1923


• Inwards overseas passenger lists from New Zealand to Victoria, 1852-1923


• Index to Assisted British Immigration, 1839-1871

In 1852 the “Act to Regulate the Conveyance of Passengers to the Colony of Victoria” was passed. This law required that ships arriving from foreign and inter-colonial ports provide details on the passengers aboard as well as other particulars of the ship. The forms used and the information recorded varied over time. In 1923 immigration became the responsibility of the Commonwealth instead of the State. These dates explain the coverage in the records presented here. Post-1923 passenger list records can be found at the National Archives of Australia.

Information recorded on the passenger lists generally includes:

• Name of passenger


• Age


• Gender


• Profession or occupation


• Nationality


• Port of embarkation


• Port of destination


• Arrival date