Using Australian post office directories in MyHeritage

In her engaging MyHeritage webinar “Using Australian Post Office Directories in MyHeritage,” genealogist Shauna Hicks demonstrated how post office directories—often overlooked by researchers—can unlock valuable insights about ancestors’ daily lives, occupations, and communities. Drawing on decades of archival experience, Hicks guided viewers through examples from Australia, New Zealand, England, and Ireland, showing how these directories illuminate local histories, trace family movements, and provide social context unavailable in more traditional records. Her presentation highlighted practical search strategies within MyHeritage and offered fresh ways to visualize ancestors’ places in their communities.

Key Takeaways:

• Directories as Time Capsules of Everyday Life: Post office directories capture much more than names—they document residents, trades, organizations, schools, churches, and local events, providing a rich snapshot of a community in a specific era. Hicks emphasized that entries often reveal social standing, occupations, or civic roles, offering deeper context to complement census or vital records.

• Effective Searching and Interpretation: Hicks provided step-by-step guidance for locating directories through the MyHeritage Collection Catalog, demonstrating the use of filters by region, time period, and occupation. She cautioned against spelling variations, scanning errors, and abbreviations, encouraging researchers to browse page by page and to cross-check results, especially when dealing with initials or common surnames.

• Expanding Context Across Countries: By showcasing directories from Gympie, Queensland to London and Norfolk to Cork and Ulster, Hicks illustrated how these records bridge geographic and historical divides. She also explored the differences in accessibility between regions—such as Ireland’s limited page navigation—and revealed how advertisements, local histories, and calendars of events add social and cultural depth to family stories.

Hicks’ examples—from locating a gold miner turned civic leader in Queensland to tracing physicians and merchants in 19th-century Ireland—demonstrated how directories can flesh out the stories of both prominent and everyday ancestors. She also underscored their value for FAN (Friends, Associates, Neighbors) research and one-place studies, showing how communities evolve and intertwine over time.

For genealogists eager to deepen their research beyond conventional sources, viewing the full webinar provides valuable demonstrations and case studies using MyHeritage tools. Be sure to explore the accompanying syllabus, which includes curated links, research tips, and directory lists across multiple countries—essential resources for uncovering the social and geographic threads that connect your ancestors’ lives across generations.