Ballarat & District Genealogical Society Inc

19/04/2026

The next meeting of the BDGS will be held Wed 22nd April, 730 pm at the Ballarat North Community Centre, corner Walker Street and Armstrong Street Nth.

Charles Zhang, from the Chinese Australian Cultural Association of Ballarat, will be speaking about 'Victory' House in Main Road- Its past history and future plans.

All welcome.

31/03/2026

Leigh Edmonds gave a very interesting talk at our March meeting. The Topic 'Getting Here, Getting There', compared travel in our ancestors' times to travel in our times. Leigh used a visual way to demonstrate the distance/ time comparsisons- A metre tape to show four months by ship to Australia, compared to a centimetre piece of tape for twenty four hours by air. Also of interest was the quick build up of railway travel in Victoria, by 1937, with lines and branches to many towns and hamlets, making travel easier.
Leigh was presented with a gift by the secretary.

Our next speaker on Wednesday 22nd April, will be Charles Zhang from the Chinese Australian Cultural Association of Ballarat. He will talk about 'Victory House' in Main Road, its history and future.

24/03/2026

Our March general meeting is Wednesday 25th, 7.30 pm at the Ballarat North Community Centre, corner Walker Street and Armstrong Street North.
Our guest speaker will be Leigh Edmonds, talking about travel in our ancestors' time.

Visitors welcome.

15/03/2026

Jason Fletcher from Loving Ballarat & Districts posted I found an original photograph of students from the St Alipius Girls School circa 1919-1920.
A note says that the girls included: Maisie Duffy, Kath Nihill, Irene Burke, Alma Graham, Eileen Melody, Eileen Kincade, Joan Cummins, Pat Maloney, Marj Maloney, Mary McConville, Nellie Murnane, Dymphna Smith, Vonnie O'Keefe, Elsie Tung, and Kathleen Armstrong.
Is anyone here related to these women?
I have a strong suspicion that my grandmother Clara Hood (nee Dwyer) is the girl patting the stuffed possum at the front.

04/03/2026

27/02/2026

Carolyn Bennett was the guest speaker for our society's first meeting of the year. She spoke about the Royal South Street Society Eisteddfod, its history and role and place in Ballarat's artistic and cultural life.
From a small public debating group to a society that now holds events for nine different disciplines over five months in various sites around Ballarat , including Her Majesty's Theatre.
The RSSS has a wonderful website including stories of past performers and results of competitions, which is well worth exploring.
One of our members, Judy Vanderkley, identified her great grandfather in a photo as an original debating club founder.

24/02/2026

The Genealogical Society of Victoria will be launching a new extended course in March 2026, Australian Family History Course: Research Strategies & Resources. The course will be delivered in a hybrid format. While a small number of sessions will be held in person, all sessions will also be available online.

Course enquiries can be directed to the Course Manager at austresearch@gsv.org.au.

Title: Australian Family History Course: Research Strategies & Resources

Aim: To provide a comprehensive guide to researching families in Australia and placing them in in a framework of place and time

Outcomes: On completion of the course, participants will have:
• an increased understanding of research skills and techniques
• a broad understanding of Australian history
• developed a knowledge of the types of records available
• an understanding of where, and how, to access records

Nine sessions from March 21st, to October

Registrations can be completed online at www.gsv.org.au.

14/02/2026

Our February edition of Link has now been emailed to financial members.Click on the link.
Check your spam box and then let the secretary know if you haven't received it.

Our first meeting for the year will be held 7.30 pm., Wednesday 25th February at the Ballarat North Community Centre.
All welcome.

Speaker for the night will be Carolyn Bennett. She will be speaking about the Royal South Street Society, its history and the significance it plays in the life of Ballarat.

Who hasn't competed in the 'Comps', or had family members or someone they know who has? Perhaps you could bring some photoes or badges along.

08/02/2026

It was a most enjoyable day of learning, sharing information and networking for all who attended our Seminar 'Getting to Know Your Ancestors in Ballarat and Beyond'. People travelled from Melbourne, Geelong and country Victoria as well as those of us attending from Ballarat. A BDGS member, Colleen Simpson travelled from Queensland. A fiction book from the series, A Forensic Genealogical Series, which had been donated by Author Nathan Dylan Goodwin, was presented to her.
Our knowledgable and eloquent speakers provided us with details of the reasons for emigrating, the development of unions and military service, how miner's rights gave the opportunity for men and their families to have a permanent dwelling and the importance Mechanic's Institutes played in their lives. We were then introduced to the wonderful treasures of the State Library Collections.
The speakers were presented with a gift bag, which included honey from a local apiarist.
On the more social side of the day, we enjoyed a delicious morning and afternoon tea, congratulated Neil Leckie on his OAM award, sang happy birthday to our treasurer, Neva Dunstan and wished young Elizabeth Hon all the best for her first day at University this coming Monday.
Once again, the facilities of the Ballarat North Community Centre played a great part in the success of the day.

01/02/2026

The Committee and members of BDGS wish to congratulate Major Neil Leckie (retired) on being awarded, on Australia Day, the OAM for his services to the community.
Neil is to be a speaker at our Seminar this coming Saturday February 7th.
Come and join us- There's still plenty of room.
'Getting to Know your Ancestors in Ballarat and Beyond'.
Saturday 7th February 2026, 9.30 am to 4.00 pm.
Ballarat North Community Centre
Armstrong Street North
Why? Dr Anne Beggs-Sunter Lecturer Federation University
Occupation? Brett Edgington Former secretary Ballarat Trades hall Council
The Role of the Mechanics' Institutes and resources.Ellen Beckers BMI curator.
Where they lived Doug Bradby Historian, Author
Military Captain Neil Leckie (retired) Military Museum
Records Anne Copeland State Library Victoria.
Cost $35 Morning and afternoon tea provided. BYO lunch.
Bookings now being taken and inquiries to
secretary@ballaratgenealogy.org.au
Payment by bank transfer with your name as reference and notify secretary.
ANZ account name: Ballarat and District Genealogical Society Inc.
ACC No 3276 24042 BSB 013 520

16/01/2026

Please note that our guest speaker from the Immigration Museum is unable to attend on the coming Seminar "Getting to Know your Ancestors in Ballarat and Beyond',as previously published. We now have Ellen Becker the curator of the Ballaarat Mechanic's Institute in Nicole Davydova's place.

Come and join us-
'Getting to Know your Ancestors in Ballarat and Beyond'.
Saturday 7th February 2026, 9.30 am to 4.00 pm.
Ballarat North Community Centre
Armstrong Street North
Why? Dr Anne Beggs-Sunter Lecturer Federation University
Occupation? Brett Edgington Former secretary Ballarat Trades hall Council
The Role of the Mechanics' Institutes and resources.Ellen Beckers BMI curator.
Where they lived Doug Bradby Historian, Author
Military Captain Neil Leckie (retired) Military Museum
Records Anne Copeland State Library Victoria.
Cost $35 Morning and afternoon tea provided. BYO lunch.
Bookings now being taken and inquiries to
secretary@ballaratgenealogy.org.au
Payment by bank transfer with your name as reference and notify secretary.
ANZ account name: Ballarat and District Genealogical Society Inc.
ACC No 3276 24042 BSB 013 520

23/12/2025

Wishing you a very merry Christmas
and
a safe and happy New Year.

BDGS Inc Committee.