Immigration

We hold records of immigrant ships and their passengers travelling directly to Queensland from Europe from 1848.

In earlier records, some information can be limited and only the name of the immigrant, the date of arrival and the name of the ship may be available. In later records, particularly those created in the 20th century, there is more information available.

Finding immigration records

Search the indexes

The indexes are collections of information from our most popular records (usually peoples’ names) that link to ArchivesSearch catalogue. If you know the name and approximate arrival date of the person you are looking for, you can search the indexes below.

4 Tips to Search the Index to Assisted Immigration 1848-1912

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Search the catalogue

ArchivesSearch provides access to QSA’s collection of records, including documents, letters, land orders, maps, plans and images. For help searching, read the ArchivesSearch help guide.

Immigration search tips

There are several reasons why you may have trouble finding an immigration record.

  • Not all passenger lists have survived, especially lists created before the 1860s. Many pre-1893 immigration records were damaged or destroyed by the 1893 floods.
  • Some records damaged by the 1893 floods were late re-written by the Immigration department and may contain transcription errors including incorrect dates for voyages.
  • Our records usually only include people classified as migrants—those receiving land orders or assisted or free passages from the government. If your ancestor paid their own way, there may be no record. Try searching the National Archives of Australia.
  • We don’t hold records of immigrants who disembarked at another colony and then travelled to Queensland. You can try visiting other archives’ websites.
  • Our lists are mainly for immigrants from Europe. If the person you’re looking for travelled from the United States, New Zealand, India, South Africa, or anywhere in Asia or Africa, they may not be recorded.

Why you may not find a record

There are several reasons why you may have trouble finding an immigration record.

  • Not all passenger lists have survived, especially lists created before the 1860s. Many pre-1893 immigration records were damaged or destroyed by the 1893 floods.
  • Some records damaged by the 1893 floods were late re-written by the Immigration department and may contain transcription errors including incorrect dates for voyages.
  • Our records usually only include people classified as migrants—those receiving land orders or assisted or free passages from the government. If your ancestor paid their own way, there may be no record. Try searching the National Archives of Australia.
  • We don’t hold records of immigrants who disembarked at another colony and then travelled to Queensland. You can try visiting other archives’ websites.
  • Our lists are mainly for immigrants from Europe. If the person you’re looking for travelled from the United States, New Zealand, India, South Africa, or anywhere in Asia or Africa, they may not be recorded.

Contact us

Contact us if you need further help.

Archival research terms

Record—information of permanent and historic value, often in paper-based form (e.g. a letter, photograph, a map), but can also be a CD, a film or a digital file

Item—a single record or many records, e.g. an item may be a single architectural drawing, a 500-page leather-bound book, or a bundle of correspondence (letters, telegrams, reports)

Series—a group of related items created, received, or used in the same activity

Agency—the Government Agency responsible for creating a series. For example, the Department of Education is the Government agency who created a series of School Admission registers for Runcorn State School. An admission register for Runcorn State School would be considered an item within that series.

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