Published books relating to the Hawkesbury district include local history, architecture, school and church histories as well as Australian history. Conservation plans on local buildings as well as reports on local environmental issues are also held.

How to access: In-Library, search the catalogue for holdings

A selection of community organisations' archives are kept. Some examples include St Albans Common Trust, Maraylya Progress Association and Hawkesbury Horticultural Society.

How to access: In-Library only, search the catalogue for holdings. It is necessary to make an appointment with the Local History Librarian history@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au, to view these records.

Records are held for the former Windsor (1871) and Richmond (1872) Councils, which amalgamated in 1949 to form Windsor Municipal Council. Windsor merged with Colo Shire (1906) to form Hawkesbury Shire in 1981. The council attained city status in 1989. Material held includes:

Minute Books

Minutes books are available from 1871 for Windsor, 1872 for Richmond and from 1906 for Colo. They record information from meetings and details of the business performed and decisions reached by the various Councils. These records are not indexed however searching newspapers on Trove might provide a starting point for your research, as details of meetings were often reported in the local newspapers.

Rate Books

Rate and Valuation books record details of land ownership through the property taxes levied by Council. Details of the owners and/or the occupiers of a property and sometimes a brief description of a building are included.  Rate books are available from 1871 for Windsor, 1872 for Richmond and from 1906 for Colo.

Correspondence and miscellaneous records

These records contain information relevant to the Hawkesbury Local Government Area.  They include some correspondence from 1870s-1920s as well as surviving letter (correspondence) books and newspaper clippings. Tenders for works, some election material and miscellaneous items are also held.

How to access: In-Library, on microfilm, search the catalogue for holdings

Windsor Court House records date from the 1820s. State Records holds the majority of these records.  The Library, however, holds some material on microfilm including some Bench books, Quarter plus Petty session records and Deposition books for periods of the19^th century. Some court records from other localities, including Lower Portland and North Richmond, are also held.

How to access: In-Library, on microfilm, search the catalogue for holdings

More and more Australian content, useful for local history research, is being made available on databases such as Ancestry Library and Find My Past. Find out about Ancestry Library and Find My Past on the eLibrary - Family history page.

How to access: In-Libraries only, using the Library’s PCs or your own device and the Library’s wifi.

Click here to find out about directories and electoral rolls on the Family history resources page

The Local Studies Collection holds historical, geographical, topographical and parish maps of the district which may provide information about local history, family history and geographical information about the landscape. These are housed in map cabinets in the Local Studies area. Parish maps plus some historic maps can be accessed online via Land and Property Information.

How to access: In-Library, search the catalogue for holdings

The Local Studies Collection has a large holding of newspapers which are available in different formats. Some are available online 24/7 and some can only be used within the library.  The Library’s PCs or your own portable device can be used to access these.

Various Hawkesbury newspapers produced during the 19^th – 20^th centuries have been digitised through the support of the Hawkesbury Library Service and are available on the National Library of Australia website called TROVE This site provides digitised newspapers between 1803 and 1955 and later, from all over Australia.  It is free, fully searchable and includes transcriptions. Some newspapers on TROVE are also available in the Library on microfilm.

The Library also has some newspaper subscriptions which, due to licensing restrictions, are only accessible by visiting the Library.

The Library also has subscriptions to a number of online databases (for use in the Library only) including the British Newspaper Archives (BNA).

The Local Studies Collection holds a range of community and business newsletters and journals.

How to access: In-Library, search the catalogue for holdings

The pamphlet file includes information such as reports, research, newspaper and journal articles, ephemera, pamphlets, as well as information about buildings and places.

How to access: In-Library, access with staff assistance, search the catalogue for holdings

Visit our Catalogue to search or browse holdings.

A number of special collections are available as part of the Local Studies Collection, including the following:

• William Walker solicitor papers 1820s-1920s
• Windsor and Richmond Trust records 1840s-1860s
• Richmond School of Arts 1861-2001
• Family archives of John Thomas Matcham Pitt of Sunnyside, North Richmond1883-1924
• Richard Coley Masonic Lodge records

How to access: In-Library, search the catalogue for holdings. Most of these have been microfilmed and are currently being digitised.

Firstly, look at Using the Local Studies Collection (pdf - 727.0 KB) for more information.
Use the Library catalogue to search for local history resources. There are many books published on a variety of topics such as church and school histories, specific stories on localities and family histories which might be useful. There are also a number of general local histories including:

Hawkesbury 1794-1994 by J Barkley & M Nichols
Macquarie Country by D G Bowd
Hawkesbury Journey by D G Bowd
Hawkesbury Pictorial by M Nichols
Early Days of Windsor by J Steele
Exploring the Hawkesbury by R I Jack

Not all local studies materials are indexed but our research guides/fact sheets may assist you:

A personal visit to the Library is recommended as the best way to continue your research.  Library staff can assist by directing you to the various local studies resources, at any time during Library opening hours.

If you are making a special visit to use the collection, it is highly recommended that you contact the Local History Librarian history@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au prior to your visit to discuss your research needs.

For researchers unable to visit, we have a research service which is undertaken on a fee basis on material that is unique to our collection, for people living long distances from the Library.  Contact the Local History Librarian history@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au or (02) 4560 4466 for more information.

Some sites that may be useful for your research:

• State Records NSW
• National Archives of Australia
• State Library of NSW
• National Library of Australia
• TROVE (Historic Australian Newspapers 1803-1954)
• Hawkesbury People & Places
  This site records places, built objects, geographical features, organisations and people associated with the history of the Hawkesbury region and is updated on a regular basis.
• Hawkesbury Historical Society
• Kurrajong‐Comleroy Historical Society
• Dharug and Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society
• Hawkesbury on the Net
  This site records information on local cemeteries, church registers, memorials and is updated on a regular basis.
• Memorials, Monuments & Plaques
  This site provides transcription and images for local war memorial, various monuments and plaques in the LGA.
• Convict Trail Project
  This site provides historical information about the Great North Road and the people connected to it.
• Royal Australian Historical Society
  This organisation, established in 1901, has a focus on NSW local and community history.