1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (TNA Copy)

Source Information

The first census of New South Wales was taken in 1828. Censuses were taken periodically in the colony thereafter. However, few of them still exist. The 1828 census is the only complete Australian census that has survived to present day.

The 1828 census was taken in November of that year. Its purpose was to record all inhabitants of the colony, both convict and free. Inhabitants are listed alphabetically according to surname. Information recorded in the census includes:

• Name of inhabitant


• Age


• Free or bond


• Ship name on which arrived


• Year arrived


• Sentence


• Religion


• Employment


• Residence


• District


• Total number of acres


• Number of acres cleared


• Number of acres cultivated


• Number of horses


• Number of horned cattle


• Number of sheep

Two Copies of the Census:

Two copies of this census were created. One copy remained in New South Wales, the other was sent to the Public Records Office in England. The copy that was sent to England is now available on microfilm from The National Archives (TNA) of the UK. This database contains the TNA copy. This is important to note because there are some slight differences between the two copies. For example, the TNA copy contains some duplicate records and misspellings that appear to be omitted in the Australian version.

Alternative Records:

Other census type records were compiled for New South Wales beginning in 1788, primarily in the form of muster lists and convict registers. These records are great census-substitutes when actual censuses do not exist.

Related Databases:

New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849

New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave, 1834-1859

New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834