Australian newspapers digitised

[Procat]

The National Library of Australia is working on a program to digitise out of copyright newspapers (1800s to mid 1950s). Still a work in progress but looks pretty promising.

[bumblebee]

Great stuff, I have bookmarked the site and will be keeping an eye on it.

Bumblebee

[tiggerbrat]

Great thanks bookmarked

[Summer]

This is very exciting. Did my usual search for "Cowey" and even got results from the Pilot data!!! Found out my Ggrandfather was a councillor and can see a death notice for one of his children, who I don't have a DOB or DOD for (albeit not yet available to view). Would recommend all with Aussie connections to look at this site - all the little stories, community involvement, sports news, etc, all add colour to our dates and official papers.

AND IT's FREE TO ACCESS!! Hallelujah! (apologies for being a tight@rse)

[Procat]

Totally agree.

It's a little ripper. Something I don't mind my taxes going towards.

[ash33au]

Thanks for the link Doug. Sure beats the month I spent in Tassie back in 1995 going through microfilm newsreels

[Procat]

Yeah, but in a way finding something on a roll of micro-film is more satisfying.

Spent many a day in the reading rooms of the SLV working through old newspapers.

[ash33au]

I've already found a relative of mine in there who escaped from a prison farm in 1945 and was sentenced to an additional 2 years when they got him.

[Procat]

Well done Ash.

Found a few of mine in there as well.

[oxon57]

Thank you for posting that very useful link - not something I was aware of.

While I haven't had time to dig thoroughly yet, just with a quick trial of a few likely names and dates, I have already found a newspaper report of a marriage of one of my couples - complete with a photograph of the bride, groom etc., which we don't have in the family collection.