D P S Melbourne Family History and Genealogy Group

D P S Melbourne Family History and Genealogy Group We are a Family History Group of over thirty years. DPS Family History Group began 29 years ago, we have no joining fee or annual subscription.

Our motto is "Preserving Our Past for the Future", There are no membership fees, we are a not for profit group, simply researchers assisting researchers. We ask for a small donation per meeting to cover the cost of tea, coffee and milk. We also ask that each person brings along a plate of goodies to share for afternoon tea. We meet at Watsonia Library. Meetings are held from January to November on the Fourth Sunday from 1 pm doors open Meeting is from 1.30pm o to 4.00pm. At each meeting we may have a Guest Speaker from 2pm or help sessions on various subjects i.e. Computer, Family History or new Tech Products. At each meeting after the talk or help sessions and afternoon tea we have a discussion time where each person can speak about their genealogical finds or ask for assistance with their Family History. Our members with their vast range of knowledge in Genealogy are our best resource. One of our objectives is to encourage people who are new to Family History and help them make connections with as yet undiscovered ancestors. After attending three meetings new members are invited to subscribe to our mailing list which is very active with helpful hints and Family History information. Whether you are new to Family History or an experienced researcher you are most welcome to join us.

21/01/2026

📢We’re delighted to announce a substantial update to the Scottish Paternity Index

This update includes 1925 Sheriff Court Decrees and Processes from courts across Scotland and the following:

Cupar decrees 1890-1898
Dundee decrees 1876-1879 and 1921-1925
Glasgow decrees 1864-1865
Perth decrees 1873-1875
Rothesay processes 1833
Dumfries processes 1808-1810 and 1844-1848
Stirling processes 1820
Aberdeen processes 1920-1924

Visit the Scottish Indexes website to search and learn more about these amazing documents.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/aboutTrove- If you cannot find what you are looking for maybe the newspaper has not y...
17/01/2026

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/about
Trove- If you cannot find what you are looking for maybe the newspaper has not yet been indexed. This is a list of the newspapers and the time frame covered / indexed by Trove.
Like all sites it will be updated as time goes by.

Title coverage information for all Newspaper and Gazette title in Trove

https://www.militaryarchives.ie/en/online-collections/military-service-pensions-collection Irish Pensions WW1 1914-192...
17/01/2026

https://www.militaryarchives.ie/en/online-collections/military-service-pensions-collection Irish Pensions WW1 1914-1923
Searchable database - reminder that surname spelling might be different than now! You can search in a variety of ways including address, date of death, maiden or other names etc

Since 1990, the Military Archives has been the official place of deposit for records of the Irish Defence Forces, the Department of Defence and Ireland's…

https://intheirownwriteblog.wordpress.com/Blog-if you wish to follow projects that are looking at Poor Law Correspondenc...
17/01/2026

https://intheirownwriteblog.wordpress.com/
Blog-if you wish to follow projects that are looking at Poor Law Correspondence. One is looking at transcribing over 14,000 letters written by Victorian and Welsh paupers and their advocates
https://intheirownwriteblog.wordpress.com/page/

Just over a hundred years ago, pioneering social historians John and Barbara Hammond lamented the fact that “the voice of the poor themselves does not come to our ears” (The Village Lab…

https://vad.redcross.org.uk/searchWas your ancestor a volunteer in the British Red Cross in WW1. Over 90,000 people volu...
16/01/2026

https://vad.redcross.org.uk/search
Was your ancestor a volunteer in the British Red Cross in WW1. Over 90,000 people volunteered.

Search the British Red Cross WW1 Volunteer Aid Detachment records.

https://www.layersoflondon.org/London - Researchers who have an interest in London for English ancestors should have a l...
16/01/2026

https://www.layersoflondon.org/
London - Researchers who have an interest in London for English ancestors should have a look see of the site 'layers of London.'
Blog -Layers of London is a free online resource that uses maps and user generated content to blend history, geography and digital technology.

12/01/2026

Hi all, have been a little busy with family again, but think it might be time to warm up the laptop and initiate some family history research.
I saw the word serendipity mentioned in an article I was reading.
It made me think of at least two instances off the top of my head that happened to me while researching my family lines.
Years ago, I went to Mildura to attend a Country Music Festival with friends, while there I went with them to visit some of their friends.
A lady was relaxing in the kitchen doing a bit of family history research. After chatting re names she was researching, turned out her great grandmother and mine were sisters.
2nd instance that comes to mind is that I visited the State Library in Melbourne with a fellow researcher and while she was looking at the items she ordered, I wandered over to the gene collection of books. The second one I pulled out had my 3xgreat grandfather Paul Millar mentioned in it. I never knew he was one of the founding members of the Scots Church in Melbourne.
Have you ever thought that your ancestors are tapping you on the head to point you in the correct direction?

Send a message to learn more

01/01/2026

“And they call women the weaker sex!” Jean Lee, 1949.

In addition to our first ever opening of Cabinet records, we also have our annual Section 9 files for you to explore. Under Section 9 of the Public Records Act, records containing personal information – such as capital case files, criminal trial briefs and divorce records – are temporarily closed to prevent the violation of privacy. This year, among the files opened, is the cabinet case of Robert Clayton, Norman Andrews and Jean Lee (the last woman hanged in Australia).

On our blog you can read Jean Lee’s story and find the full list of Section 9 files opened: https://shorturl.at/tRLWz

If you are researching ancestry in Scotland Chris is a goldmine of information
31/12/2025

If you are researching ancestry in Scotland Chris is a goldmine of information

Discover where to find kirk session records and how to use them to trace your Scottish ancestors with help from Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine's guide

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4 Ibbottson Street
Melbourne, VIC
3087

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DPS Family History Group has been going for 27 years, is a not for profit group, we have no joining fee or annual subscription. We ask for a small donation per meeting to cover the cost of tea, coffee and milk. We also ask that each person brings along a plate of goodies to share for afternoon tea. Meetings Are held from January to November on the Fourth Sunday from 1 pm to 4.00pm. We meet in the Community Room at Watsonia Library. At each meeting we usually have a Guest Speaker from 1.30pm or help sessions on various subjects i.e. Computer, Family History or new Tech Products. At each meeting after the talk and afternoon tea we have a discussion time where each person talks of their genealogical finds or asks for assistance with their Family History. Our members with their vast range of knowledge in Genealogy are our best resource. One of our objectives is to assist people who use computers for Family History. Also after attending at least 3 meetings people are invited to subscribe to our mailing list which is very active with helpful hints and Family History information. Whether you are new to Family History or an experienced researcher you are most welcome to join us.