Research Services

Members - Distant Member Research Request

Members who live outside a 100 km radius from the Melbourne GPO are entitled to a 2-hour block of complimentary research per year.

If you believe believe you are eligible for extra consideration re the 100km free research, then please contact us by email: research@gsv.org.au

Apply here: Members - Distant Member Research Request

Members - Quick Look-up Service

• This service is limited to one query at a time for a 20-minute look-up of a record accessible from our library, or we may be able to advise you where records are held.
• A Quick Look-up is best used in those situations where you know the record you want but can't visit the GSV Library to view it.
• We will notify you if your request does not qualify and may advise you to submit an extended research request.
• Digital images may be included in the reply.
• On receipt of a reply, you are welcome to send another question.
• Cost: Free of charge for GSV Members.

Apply here: Members - Quick Look-up Service

Members - Extended Research Service

• This service is carried out by an experienced team and is available for Members and Non-Members.
• Requests will be answered in order of receipt and there may be some delay.
• Clearly state what you wish us to investigate.
• Include an Ancestry Chart and Family Group Sheets for those you are researching, with copies of all relevant certificates, etc. you hold.
• The hourly fee includes limited copying and postal charges – email is more efficient and cost-effective.
• You need to decide the number of hours of research.
• We usually recommend two hours to start but we are happy to begin with one hour.
• At the end of that time we send a report, often with digital or paper images, and advise whether more work is required.
• The cost is $30.00 per hour with a minimum of one hour.

Apply here: Members - Extended Research Service

Members - Consultation Service

• An appointment can be made for one hour with a research consultant.
• Before booking an appointment, you may wish to visit the GSV and ask for the assistance of the Research Assistants.
• Please contact us at this email address to arrange an appointment: research@gsv.org.au
• Please advise time-frame and area of your research when requesting an appointment.
• Please bring copies of all relevant documents you hold.
• The cost is $30.00 for a one hour consultation.

Apply here: Members - Consultation Service

Members - Document Retrieval - Victorian Probate Records

• The GSV will obtain copies of these documents from the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV):
  • Victorian Probate Papers 1841-2016 (Indexes to 2016 and images to 1925 are available free online on PROV website): Wills and probates
• These documents are indexed so there is no refund if the document cannot be found, so please provide accurate details including the PROV reference number.
• If in doubt, you should consider a Quick Lookup:  Quick Look-up Service
• Documents are sent as digital copies to you by email.
• If prints are required, an invoice for photocopies at 65 cents per page and postage will be sent.
• The cost is $50.00 per request.

Apply here: Members - Victorian Probate Records

Members - Document Retrieval - Inquest Records

• The GSV will obtain copies of these documents from the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV):
  • Victorian inquest papers 1926 -1985 (not 1962-1971) indexed on PROV: Inquests into deaths
  • Note: Indexes and images 1840-1925 are also available on Ancestry.
• These documents are indexed so there is no refund if the document cannot be found, so please provide accurate details including the PROV reference number.
• If in doubt, you should consider a Quick Lookup:  Quick Look-up Service
• Documents are sent as digital copies to you by email.
• If prints are required, an invoice for photocopies at 65 cents per page and postage will be sent.
• The cost is $50.00 per request.

Apply here: Members - Inquest Records

Members - Document Retrieval - Melbourne Hospital Records

• The GSV will obtain copies of these documents from the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV):
  • Melbourne Hospital Records, only those entries indexed in the Genealogical Index of Names (GIN): Genealogical index of Names - Members
• These documents are indexed so there is no refund if the document cannot be found, so please provide accurate details including the PROV reference number.
• If in doubt, you should consider a Quick Lookup:  Quick Look-up Service
• Documents are sent as digital copies to you by email.
• If prints are required, an invoice for photocopies at 65 cents per page and postage will be sent.
• The cost is $50.00 per request.

Apply here: Members - Melbourne Hospital Records

Members - Document Retrieval - Other PROV Documents

• The GSV will obtain copies of specified documents from the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV).
• These types of documents include: civil court cases, police correspondence, criminal trial briefs, land records, royal commission submissions, school correspondence files, divorce files, asylum correspondence.
• For Probate Papers, please use the Probate Request Service: Victorian Probate Records
• For Inquest Papers, please use the Inquest Request Service: Inquest Records
• For Melbourne Hospital Records, please use the Melbourne Hospital Records Request Service: Melbourne Hospital Records
• You must provide FULL and specific reference details.
• This option does not include searching for documents - this would be a Quick lookup Quick Look-up Service or an Extended Research Request (hourly rate)  Extended Research Service.
• The cost is $60.00 per request.  However, if extensive research is required, we may need to ask you to pay extra.

Apply here: Members - Other PROV Documents

Non-Members - Quick Look-up Service

• This service is limited to one query at a time for a 20-minute look-up of a record accessible from our library, or we may be able to advise you where records are held.
• A Quick Look-up is best used in those situations where you know the record you want but can't visit the GSV Library to view it.
• We will notify you if your request does not qualify and may advise you to submit an extended research request.
• Digital images may be included in the reply.
• On receipt of a reply, you are welcome to send another question.
• The cost is $20.00 per request.

Apply here: Non-Members - Quick Look-up Service

Non-Members - Extended Research Service

• This service is carried out by an experienced team and is available for Members and Non-Members.
• Requests will be answered in order of receipt and there may be some delay.
• Clearly state what you wish us to investigate.
• Include an Ancestry Chart and Family Group Sheets for those you are researching, with copies of all relevant certificates, etc. you hold.
• The hourly fee includes limited copying and postal charges – email is more efficient and cost-effective.
• You need to decide the number of hours of research.
• We usually recommend two hours to start but we are happy to begin with one hour.
• At the end of that time we send a report, often with digital or paper images, and advise whether more work is required.
• The cost is $50.00 per hour with a minimum of one hour.

Apply here or pay for additional hours: Non-Members - Extended Research Service

Non-Members - Consultation Service

• An appointment can be made for one hour with a research consultant.
• Before booking an appointment, you may wish to visit the GSV and ask for the assistance of the Research Assistants.
• Please contact us at this email address to arrange an appointment: research@gsv.org.au
• Please advise time-frame and area of your research when requesting an appointment.
• Please bring copies of all relevant documents you hold.
• The cost is $50.00 for a one hour consultation.

Apply here: Non-Members - Consultation Service

Non-Members - Document Retrieval - Victorian Probate Records

• The GSV will obtain copies of these documents from the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV):
  • Victorian Probate Papers 1841-2016 (Indexes to 2016 and images to 1925 are available free online on PROV website): Wills and probates
• These documents are indexed so there is no refund if the document cannot be found, so please provide accurate details including the PROV reference number.
• If in doubt, you should consider a Quick Lookup:  Quick Look-up Service
• Documents are sent as digital copies to you by email.
• If prints are required, an invoice for photocopies at 65 cents per page and postage will be sent.
• The cost is $75.00 per request.

Apply here: Non-Members - Victorian Probate Records

Non-Members - Document Retrieval - Inquest Records

• The GSV will obtain copies of these documents from the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV):
  • Victorian inquest papers 1926 -1985 (not 1962-1971) indexed on PROV: Inquests into deaths
  • Note: Indexes and images 1840-1925 are also available on Ancestry.
• These documents are indexed so there is no refund if the document cannot be found, so please provide accurate details including the PROV reference number.
• If in doubt, you should consider a Quick Lookup:  Quick Look-up Service
• Documents are sent as digital copies to you by email.
• If prints are required, an invoice for photocopies at 65 cents per page and postage will be sent.
• The cost is $75.00 per request.

Apply here: Non-Members - Inquest Records

Non-Members - Document Retrieval - Melbourne Hospital Records

• The GSV will obtain copies of these documents from the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV):
  • Melbourne Hospital Records, only those entries indexed in the Genealogical Index of Names (GIN): Genealogical index of Names - Non-Members
• These documents are indexed so there is no refund if the document cannot be found, so please provide accurate details including the PROV reference number.
• If in doubt, you should consider a Quick Lookup:  Quick Look-up Service
• Documents are sent as digital copies to you by email.
• If prints are required, an invoice for photocopies at 65 cents per page and postage will be sent.
• The cost is $75.00 per request.

Apply here: Non-Members - Melbourne Hospital Records

Non-Members - Document Retrieval - Other PROV Documents

• The GSV will obtain copies of specified documents from the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV).
• These types of documents include: civil court cases, police correspondence, criminal trial briefs, land records, royal commission submissions, school correspondence files, divorce files, asylum correspondence.
• For Probate Papers, please use the Probate Request Service: Victorian Probate Records
• For Inquest Papers, please use the Inquest Request Service: Inquest Records
• For Melbourne Hospital Records, please use the Melbourne Hospital Records Request Service: Melbourne Hospital Records
• You must provide FULL and specific reference details.
• This option does not include searching for documents - this would be a Quick lookup Quick Look-up Service or an Extended Research Request (hourly rate)  Extended Research Service.
• The cost is $85.00 per request.  However, if extensive research is required, we may need to ask you to pay extra.

Apply here: Non-Members - Other PROV Documents