Directories and almanacs

Introduction

Directories and almanacs have information about where a person lived, their work and sometimes details about their lives.  Directories are published lists of names, usually arranged alphabetically or by location. 

What is online?

• Wise’s Tasmania Post Office Directory 1890-1948 – lists heads of households by town. It also includes business, church, professional and government directories.
• Cyclopedia of Tasmania
• The Tasmanian Almanack 1824-1830
• Other published directories online

What else is there?

• Walch’s Almanac – 1863 to 1980. It includes information about Tasmanian towns and local government areas, with names of significant officials. See the indexes.
• Australian almanacs 1806-1930: a bibliography compiled by Ian Morrison, Maureen Perkins and Tracey Caulfield.
• Published directories
• Published almanacs

Notes

There are Tasmanian telephone directories from 1906. Until 1970 a single volume covered the entire state. Since 1971 there have been three telephone directories covering:

• south Tasmania, including Hobart
• the north east, including Launceston
• the north west and west

Government departments, and other large institutions such as the university, often produce their own internal directories.

Related

• Census, musters and electoral roll records
• Guide: How do I find out about where a person lived?

What is available from other organisations?

• Findmypast – available in our libraries only. View the Findmypast tutorial
• 1953 telephone directory 
• Tasmanian Government Gazette
• Tasmanian Directory 1867-68, 1887
• Tasmanian Royal Kalender and Almanack 1849 & 1850