Find your ancestors in Victoria, Melbourne Directory 1854-1893

MELBOURNE DIRECTORY 1854-1893

Do you have Melbourne ancestry?

Directories are an extremely useful tool for establishing when and where a person lived however this is just a starting point, look further in the directory to find out more information about the society in which they lived, the occupation they held and the people they knew.

These directories include advertisements which provide useful insight, often including names of people and places. Each directory including most text in the ads is searchable. This makes it useful not only for finding names but also places, occupations and other information for family and local historians.

Directories are one of the most effective ways of tracing members of a family, especially tradesmen. Many small businesses needed to ensure the public was aware of their activity and one of the better ways to do this in an age before media dominated was via a directory. The value of directories as a research tool is enhanced when no census material is available.

Each directory contains varied information, details on what is included for each year are below.

1854 (Butterfield)

This directory is arranged as follows:

  • Map of Melbourne

  • Directory - arranged by streets

  • Directory - arranged alphabetically

  • Trade and Professional Directory

  • Public Companies and Societies

  • Squatters' Directory - with names of runs and their occupation

  • Official (Government) Directory

  • Consulates

  • Advertisements

1858 (Tanner)

This directory covers the areas of Melbourne proper, East and North Melbourne, Collingwood, Richmond and the business portions of Emerald Hill, Sandridge and Williamstown.

It is divided into three sections. The first contains a street guide and directory indicating shop names, owners and where they’re located. There is also an alphabetical directory sorted by surname giving occupation and address. Thirdly, there is a professions and trades directory, also giving names and addresses.

The directory also contains an advertisement section containing information on advertisements from companies throughout the state at this time.

1860

1860 saw the fourth edition of Sands, Kenny & Co's Commercial & General Melbourne Directory. 

Localities covered for the business portions of the directory include: East Melbourne, North Melbourne, Carlton, West Melbourne, Fitzroy, East Collingwood, Richmond, Prahran, St Kilda, Emerald Hill, Sandridge, and Williamstown. 

This directory is actually nine directories in one:

  • Street Directory and Guide

  • Suburban Directory

  • Alphabetical Directory

  • Trade and Professional Directory

  • Banks and Companies Directory

  • Societies and Institutions Directory

  • Government and Official Directory

  • Ecclesiastical and Legal Directory

  • Miscellaneous Directory

1861

The full title of this directory is 'Sands, Kenny & Co's Commercial & General Melbourne Directory for 1861'.

Localities covered are: East Melbourne, North Melbourne & Hotham, Carlton, West Melbourne, Fitzroy, East Collingwood, Richmond, Hawthorn & Kew, Prahran, South Yarra & Windsor, St Kilda, Emerald Hill, Sandridge and Williamstown.

This Directory consists of a trade directory (listed both alphabetically by name, and by trade) for much of Melbourne and suburbs. It also includes:

  • A street guide

  • Street directory

  • Societies directory

  • Government and official directory

  • Ecclesiastical and legal directory 

  • Municipal directory

1862

Sands and McDougall's (along with Wise's) are the best known, and most comprehensive directories that were produced for various Australian colonies.

They are a collection of 10 directories in the one including:

  • Street Directory

  • Suburban Street Directory

  • Alphabetical Directory

  • Trade and Professional Directory

  • Banks and Companies Directory

  • Societies and Institutions Directory

  • Government and Official Directory

  • Ecclesiastical Directory

  • Municipal and Colonial Directory

  • Miscellaneous Directory

Using the Street directory will give you the names of the householder street-by-street for Melbourne and suburbs. The Alphabetical directory lists everyone alphabetically by surname, together with their occupation, and address. It lists thousands of names of those working and residing in Melbourne in 1862.

1863 & 1864

In these two directories you can expect to find people named with their addresses under:

  • Street directory (Melbourne, Brighton, Brunswick, Collingwood, East Melbourne, Emerald Hill, Footscray, Hawthorn,   Kew, North Melbourne, Northcote, Prahran, Richmond, Sandridge, St Kilda, Toorak, West Melbourne, Williamstown)

  • Alphabetical directory (state-wide)

  • Trade and professional directory

Other sections including names but usually not addresses:

  • Commerce management - banking, insurance companies, friendly societies, gold mining companies, railways, shipping

  • Societies, lodges and institutions-patrons, presidents, secretaries, treasurers

  • Government - MPs, heads of departments, receivers of revenue, paymasters, commissioners of crown lands, harbour masters and pilots, inspectors of distilleries, immigration agents, military officers

  • Consuls

  • Clergy

  • Courts - judicial officers, sheriffs, bailiffs, commissioners for taking affidavits, coroners

  • Municipalities - councillors, town clerks

1865 

The full title is "Sands and McDougall's Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1865 containing street, alphabetical, and trade directory Melbourne and suburbs, together with a miscellaneous directory of useful information".

This is arranged in over 600 pages as follows:

  • Directory arranged by street - over 200 pages

  • Directory arranged alphabetically - 167 pages

  • Trade and professional directory - 60 pages

  • Miscellaneous directory and ads - ths section includes banks, railways, land & sea transport, societies and institutions, government and official, ecclesiastical, legal, colonial, postal information and much more

Localities covered include Alphinton, Brighton, Brunswick, Collingwood (Fitzroy, East Collingwood), East Melbourne, Emerald Hill, Essendon, Flemington, Footscray, Hawthorn and Kew, Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Melbourne, North Melbourne (Carlton, Hotham), Northcote, Pentridge, Prahran South, Preston, Richmond, Sandridge, St Kilda, Toorak, West Melbourne, Williamstown, Yarra and Windsor.

1866

In this directory you can expect to find people named with their addresses under:

  • Street directory (Melbourne, Bourke, Brighton, Brunswick, East Collingwood, East Melbourne, Emerald Hill, Essendon, Fitzroy, Flemington,Footscray, Gipps, Hawthorn, Heidelberg, Hotham, Kew, Lonsdale, North Melbourne, Northcote, Pentridge, Prahran, Preston, Richmond, Sandridge, St Kilda, Smith, Toorak, West Melbourne, Williamstown)

  • Alphabetical directory (state-wide)

  • Trade and professional directory

Other sections including names but usually not addresses:

  • Commerce management-banking, insurance companies, friendly societies, gold mining companies, railways, shipping

  • Societies, lodges and institutions-patrons, presidents, secretaries, treasurers

  • Government - MPs, heads of departments, receivers of revenue, paymasters, commissioners of crown lands, harbour masters and pilots, inspectors of distilleries, immigration agents, military officers

  • Consuls

  • Clergy

  • Courts - judicial officers, sheriffs, bailiffs, commissioners for taking affidavits, coroners

  • Municipalities - councillors, town clerk

1867

In this directory you can expect to find people named with their addresses under:

  • Street directory (Melbourne, Ascot Vale, Brighton, Brunswick, Carlton, Caufield, East Collingwood, East Melbourne, Emerald Hill, Easternwick, Essendon, Fitzroy, Flemington, Footscray, Hawthorn, Heidelberg, Hotham, Kensington, Kew, Moonee Ponds, Northcote, Oakleigh, Pentridge, Prahran, Preston, Richmond, Sandridge, East St Kilda, South Yarra, Toorak, West Melbourne, Williamstown, Windsor)

  • Alphabetical directory (state-wide)

  • Trade and professional directory

Other sections including names but usually not addresses:

  • Commerce management - banking, insurance companies, friendly societies, gold mining companies, railways, shipping

  • Societies, lodges and institutions-patrons, presidents, secretaries, treasurers

  • Government - MPs, heads of departments, receivers of revenue, paymasters, commissioners of crown lands, harbour masters and pilots, inspectors of distilleries, immigration agents, military officers

  • Consuls

  • Clergy

  • Courts - judicial officers, sheriffs, bailiffs, commissioners for taking affidavits, coroners

  • Municipalities - councillors, town clerks

1868 & 1869

In this directory you can expect to find people named with their addresses under:

  • Street directory (Melbourne, Ascot Vale, Boroondara, Brighton, Brunswick, Carlton, Caulfield, East Collingwood, East Melbourne, Emerald Hill, Easternwick, Essendon, Elwood, Fitzroy, Flemington, Footscray, Hawthorn, Heidelberg, Hotham, Kensington, Kew, Moonee Ponds, Northcote, Oakleigh, Pentridge, Prahran, Preston, Richmond, Sandridge, St Kilda, Studley Park, South Yarra, Toorak, West Melbourne, Williamstown, Windsor)

  • Alphabetical directory (state-wide)

  • Trade and professional directory

Other sections including names but usually not addresses:

  • Commerce management - banking, insurance companies, friendly societies, gold mining companies, railways, shipping

  • Societies, lodges and institutions - patrons, presidents, secretaries, treasurers

  • Government - MPs, heads of departments, receivers of revenue, paymasters, commissioners of crown lands, harbour masters and pilots, inspectors of distilleries, immigration agents, military officers

  • Consuls

  • Clergy

  • Courts - judicial officers, sheriffs, bailiffs, commissioners for taking affidavits, coroners

  • Municipalities - councillors, town clerks

1870

These large Sands and McDougall directories are known to be amongst the most comprehensive available.

Divided into various sections you will find:

  • Alphabetical name directory

  • Street directory

  • Trade and Professional directory

  • Government and Official directory

  • Ecclesiastical directory

  • Legal and Municipal directory

  • Advertisements

  • Alphabetical name directory

  • Street directory

  • Trade and Professional directory

  • Government and Official directory

  • Ecclesiastical directory

  • Legal and Municipal directory

  • Advertisements

This directory covers both Melbourne and its suburbs, including: Melbourne proper, Ascot Vale, Boroondara, Brighton, Brunswick, Carlton, Caulfield, East Collingwood, East Melbourne, Emerald Hill, Elsternwick, Elwood, Essendon, Fitzroy and Fitzroy North, Flemington, Footscray, Hawthorn, Heidelberg, Hotham, Jolimont, Kensington, Kew, Malvern, Moonee Ponds, Newmarket, Northcote, Oakleigh, Pentridge, Prahran, Preston, Richmond, Sandridge, St Kilda, Studley Park, South Yarra, Toorak, West Melbourne, Williamstown, and Windsor.They contain an immense amount of information for the genealogist and historian alike.

  • The alphabetical section lists the names of each head of household and their town of residence, in many cases their occupation and street address is also listed

  • The street directory lists individuals and businesses alphabetically by name of street and number for the larger populated regions

  • The trade and professional directories contain information on businesses and companies, listed alphabetically by trade

  • The advertisements are a useful source of information as well

1875

This Melbourne Directory lists the names and professions of many people in Melbourne and suburbs in 1875.

The directory contains:

  • A comprehensive Melbourne and suburbs Street directory

  • Melbourne and suburbs alphabetical directory

  • A trades and professional directory

  • And much more

1880

Divided into various sections you will find the following:

  • Alphabetical name directory

  • Street directory

  • Trade and Professional directory

  • Government and Official directory

  • Ecclesiastical directory

  • Legal and Municipal directory

  • Hundreds of Advertisements

The sections incude: 

  • The alphabetical section lists the names of each head of household and their town of residence, in many cases their occupation and street address is also listed

  • The street directory lists individuals and businesses alphabetically by name of street and number for the larger populated regions

  • The trade and professional directories contain information on businesses and companies, listed alphabetically by trade

  • The advertisements are a useful source of information as well

This directory covers both Melbourne and its suburbs, including Melbourne proper, Alphington, Ascot Vale, Bolingbroke, Boroondara, Box Forest, Brighton (East, South and North), Brunswick, Camberwell, Camden Town, Carlton and Carlton North, Caulfield, Cheltenham, Coburg, Collingwood, East Melbourne, Elsternwick, Elwood, Emerald Hill, Essendon, Fitzroy and Fitzroy North, Flemington, Footscray and Fitzroy Upper, Gowerville (Preston), Greenwich, Hartwell, Hawthorn, Heidelberg, Hotham, Irishtown, Ivanhoe, Jolimont, Keelbundora, Kensington, Kew, Malvern, Moonee Ponds, Mulgrave, Newlands, Newmarket, Northcote, Norwood, Oakleigh, Parkville, Prahran, Preston, Richmond, Sandridge, St Kilda, South Melbourne, South Yarra, Thomastown, Toorak, Westgarthtown, West Melbourne, Williamstown, Windsor, Yarraberg, and Yarraville.

1884

This year contains the following:

  • Street directory

  • Alphabetical directory

  • Trade directory 

  • Melbourne and suburbs directory

  • Government official

  • Legal, municipal and miscellaneous information

A fascinating feature is a Universal Building Societies Supplement which includes 15 pages of architectural house plans of the day including layouts and elevations, with the house price for each. This have estimated prices ranging from £150 for a basic wooden house to substantial brick dwellings for just over £1000, with servants room included. The introduction to the plans states:

"The accompanying plans have been prepared by Messrs. N. Billing and Son, architects. The estimated cost of each building includes all charges in connexion with the erection thereof ..."

1892

The directory includes the following information listed, and concludes with over 70 pages of advertisements which all useful insight, often including names of people and places.

This year contains the following:

  • Trade directory (listed both alphabetically by name, and by trade) for Melbourne and its suburbs

  • Street guide

  • Street directory

  • Government and official directory

  • Ecclesiastical and legal directory 

  • Municipal directory

1893

This 1893 Sands and McDougall directory contains nearly 1500 pages. 

Apart from the Street, Alphabetical, Trade and Professional directories, this volume also contains Government and Official, Ecclesiastical, Legal, Municipal, Colonial, Societies and Institutions directories.

This directory covers Melbourne city and its suburbs, which consist of: Abbotsford, Albert Park, Alphington, Armadale, Ascot Vale, Balwyn. Bolingbroke, Box Hill, Braybrook, Brighton, Brighton East, Brighton South, Broadmeadows, Brunswick, Burwood, Camberwell, Canterbury, Carlton and North Carlton, Caulfield, Cheltenham, Clifton Hill, Coburg, Collingwood, East Melbourne, Elsternwick, Essendon, Fairfield, Fawkner, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Flemington, Footscray, Glen Iris, Glenroy, Hawksburn, Hawthorn, Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Jolimont, Keilor, Kensington, Kew, Maidstone, Malvern, Mentone, Moonee Ponds, Mordialloc, Mulgrave, Newlands, Newmarket, Newport, Northcote, North Melbourne, Oakleigh, Parkville, Port Melbourne, Prahran, Preston, Preston South, Richmond, Sandringham, South Melbourne, South Yarra, Spottiswoode, St Kilda, Surrey Hills, Toorak, West Melbourne, Williamstown, Windsor, Yarraberg, and Yarraville. Using this directory will give you the names of the householder street-by-street for a number of suburbs.

  • The Alphabetical section lists all householders alphabetical by surname, together with their occupation and residence

  • The towns section lists the towns alphabetically, together with the householder, and their occupation

  • You will also find the trade directory useful, as it lists everyone alphabetically by trade, together with their address

  • There are government, legal, ecclesiastical, banking, municipal and pastoral directories included as well

This is an invaluable genealogy tool for exploring your Melbourne family history or building your family tree, and a fascinating glimpse for social historians.