Queensland Family History Society

QFHS Members - Uncover Your Ancestors in Colonial India and the Far East! 🗺️

Are you researching family history in Colonial India or the Far East? Join our friendly, collaborative Special Interest Group (SIG) online! We share valuable resources, research ideas, and short presentations about this fascinating time and place.

📅 When: Sunday, 14 June 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM AEST
📍 Where: Online via Zoom/Meeting Link

Whether you are just starting out or have been researching for years, everyone is welcome to join the conversation and discover new avenues for their family tree.

📧 How to join: This event is free, but registration is required for the link. Please email [email protected] for more information or to receive your online meeting invitation.

Unlock Your Irish Heritage From Home! 🍀🔍

Are you tracing your family roots back to Ireland? Whether you are stuck on a brick wall or just starting out, the Queensland Family History Society (QFHS) Irish Research Group is here to help!

Join our next online meeting to connect with fellow researchers, discover new historical resources, and share tips for tracing Irish ancestors.

📅 When: Saturday, 13 June 2026
⏰ Time: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM AEST
📍 Where: Online via Zoom/Meeting Link
👥 Who: Everyone is welcome! QFHS members and guests alike.

What to expect:
• Informative presentations on Irish history, culture, and records.
• Interactive Q&A sessions to help solve your specific research challenges.
• A supportive community to share discoveries and breakthroughs.

📧 How to join:
Email [email protected] to register and receive your online meeting link.
(QFHS members: please include your membership number in the email).

Happy Queensland Day! The State Archives have posted this gorgeous early map. Tell us about your ancestors? Were they pre-Queensland? Pre-European settlement? Or did they arrive much later?

🎉🌴 Happy Queensland Day! 🌞🐨

Today, we celebrate everything that makes our Sunshine State so special - our stunning landscapes, rich history, and, of course, the amazing people who call Queensland home. But do you know the story behind Queensland Day?

On 6 June 1859, Queensland officially separated from New South Wales and became its own colony. It’s a day that marks our independence and identity!

Want to dive deeper into the history? Check out this fascinating blog about The Historical Significance of Queensland Day: https://bit.ly/4dJsFpn

Grab a lamington, soak up the sunshine, and celebrate Queensland pride today! 🎂🌊

📍 Celebrate Queensland Day with us!

On 6 June 1859, Queensland officially separated from New South Wales to become its own colony. Today, we celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures, and resilient people who have shaped our great state.

Are you curious about your own Queensland roots? Whether your ancestors were early pioneers, immigrants arriving at Moreton Bay, or long-time locals, the Queensland Family History Society (QFHS) is here to help you uncover their stories.
Celebrate your heritage this Queensland Day by diving into your family tree!

Drop a comment below with the Queensland town your ancestors first settled in! 👇

📚 Can a novel hold the key to understanding your ancestors?

Sometimes, early Australian literature, travel diaries, and poetry describe a time, place, or social situation far more vividly than standard history books. Even after the invention of photography, these written accounts are vital for capturing the spirit and personal experiences of our ancestors' eras.

In our upcoming Learn@QFHS online session, presenter Chris Schuetz will guide you through typical literary sources and show you exactly how to find hidden gems to enrich your family history context.

🗓️ Friday, 12 June 2026
🕙 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM AEST
💻 Online event (Open to everyone!)
💰 QFHS/GSQ Members: $20 | Visitors: $30
🔗 Click the link in our bio to register via Eventbrite!

✨ Happy Wiltshire Day! ✨
Do you have ancestors from the English West Country? 🌳

Today, 5 June, we are celebrating Wiltshire Day—honouring the rich heritage, historic landscapes, and incredible stories of the people who left Wiltshire and eventually made Queensland their home.

From the iconic stone circles of Stonehenge and Avebury to the bustling historic market towns, Wiltshire has a deep history. If your family tree winds through Salisbury, Trowbridge, Swindon, or the rural villages of the plains, today is the perfect day to dive back into those records!

At the Queensland Family History Society, we love helping you bridge the gap between Queensland and the UK.

💬 Member Challenge: Do you have a Wiltshire ancestor? Let us know their name and where they settled in Queensland in the comments below! 👇

Learn more about our resources at 🌐.qfhs.org.au

Throwback Thursday

Today, we are looking at a photo of a family standing outside their sandstone home in the Warwick district, likely sometime between 1890 and 1910 based on their clothing.

The catalogue entry at the State Library does not tell me anything about this family, but I think it gives us a wonderful glimpse into everyday life in Queensland. The home is beautifully maintained, and the family are in their best clothing, suggesting that this was an important moment to remember. Maybe they had just moved in? Maybe something significant was happening in the family.

For family historians, images like this remind us that there is more to a story than names and dates. Photographs capture how people lived, not just when they were born and died. Sometimes they tell a story of hardship and struggle; sometimes, as in this image from the Warwick district, they reveal a family standing proudly before the home and life they had built.

We don't all have the luxury of photos of our ancestors, so when we find photos - they are worth celebrating. Do you have a family photo which tells a story of their life?

Are you interested in St Helena Island history? If so, this talk by Belinda Daly looks fascinating!

📢 Uncover the Hidden Stories of St Helena Island!

Join us for our next as researcher and Harry Gentle Visiting Research Fellow, Belinda Daly, shares the untold history of the women and children who lived on St Helena Island alongside the warders of the Penal Establishment (1867–1932).

Discover how 47 families overcame isolation and societal barriers to create a thriving community on this remote island.

📆Thursday 25 June 2026
⏰ 11.00am–12.30pm
📍 Queensland State Archives, Runcorn
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3R4GG84

Happy Dorset Day! 🌳🍎

Today, 1 June, marks the feast day of Saint Wite, the patron saint of Dorset, and a day for us to celebrate the "County of Chalk Downs". Whether your ancestors hailed from the bustling streets of Dorchester or the Jurassic Coast, Dorset has deep roots in our family trees here in Queensland.

Did you know that Dorset is home to one of only two shrines in England to survive the Reformation? It’s a county known for its ancient landscapes, from Roman ruins to the rural beauty captured by Thomas Hardy.

We’d love to hear your stories!
• Do you have a "Dorset connection" in your tree?
• Perhaps an ancestor who lived near the cliffs of Lyme Regis or farmed the gentle valleys?

Share your family surnames or photos in the comments below! 👇
The QFHS has a special interest group – English West Country Group.

QFHS Members - Ready to master Family Historian? 💻✨

Join the Queensland Family History Society (QFHS) Family Historian Software User Group for our next online meetup! Whether you are a seasoned researcher or just getting started, this is the perfect space to learn, support each other, and make recording your family tree enjoyable.

Come along to share your recent breakthrough discoveries, troubleshoot tricky software features, and swap stories with a friendly, like-minded community.

🗓️ When: Sunday, 7 June 2026
🕐 Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm AEST
📍 Where: Online via Discord

Registered group members receive regular meeting reminders.

Want to join the group and get the link? Email [email protected] to sign up today!