Local residents looking to trace their ancestral roots will have free access to extensive global and regional archives when the East Gippsland Family History Group holds an open day later this month.
Timed to celebrate National Family History Month this August, the group is opening the doors to its Bairnsdale research facility under the national theme: “Family as a community – Together We Can Do So Much More.”
The open day will be held on Saturday, August 22, at 21 Morgan Street, Bairnsdale, running from 10am to 4pm. Entry is free, and experienced volunteer researchers will be available throughout the day to assist both beginners and seasoned genealogists with their family tree inquiries.
In addition to major commercial databases like Ancestry and FindMyPast, the group is an official FamilySearch affiliate library — a status that grants visitors access to more than 400 million restricted historical records not viewable from home computers.
The facility also houses vast physical archives unavailable online, including historical parish maps detailing early land holdings across East Gippsland, as well as specialised equipment for digitising fragile paper records and family photographs.
While heavily focused on East Gippsland history, the group’s collections cater to family research across Australia and worldwide.
The event will conclude with an informal afternoon tea at 3pm, giving attendees a chance to connect and discuss their discoveries over a cup of tea.
For further inquiries, contact the group by email at secretary@egfhg.org.au
