National Archives of Australia's Page

Hi, I am really having a problem finding my dad's "birth registration" his dad Michael Vincent Flannery was born in (Campbells Creek) Victoria and went to the Boer war 5th Mounted Rifles and then again in 1902 to 6th reg.  after the war in 1902 he went back to Australia, he met my Gran Catherine (Collins) who was a nurse and they moved to South Africa in abt1905 and got married and had my 2 Aunt's (Nora and Patrica 1909,1917), Uncle (1910 John died within the 1st year) and my dad who was born in 1919, South Africa was part of the commonwealth at that stage and the kids held British Subject status (which automatically qualified them for Australian Citizenship) my dad never held South African citizenship and pass away in 1982 with no documented citizenship, (his dad Michael Vincent was the only one of eight children to leave Australia). I would like to establish his Australian Citizenship (as his last wish) as the entire family is residing in Australia.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

Roger Flannery 

Sorry My dad's name was Leonard Francis Flannery :)

Hi Roger

This is a very tricky area to find records for.  You should be able to find some form of birth registration for your father in South Africa, as that is where his parents were living when he was born.  I quickly checked the National Archives of South Africa's home page (www.national.archives.gov.za) which said that 'all birth, marriage and death certificates as well as immigration, naturalization and name change records are kept at the Department of Home Affairs. For further information, please consult the website of the Department of Home Affairs at http://www.dha.gov.za '.  I couldn't find any information on this site about how to purchase historical birth certificates or even how one would search for them.  I recommend that you send an email to their contact at csc@dha.gov.au with as much information as possible (dates, location of birth, parents etc) asking whether they have any record of his birth and whether it is possible to purchase a certificate.

As you outlined in your posting, determining citizenship in Australia prior to 1949 (when Australian nationality was introduced by legislation) is difficult, as there was no legal category of Australian citizenship at that time.  Anyone who was born in Australia prior to 1949 automatically had British nationality (similar to South Africa who were also British subjects until 1949). Prior to 1949, if you were a British subject, you were not required to become a naturalised Australian. Therefore your father would not have needed to have documented Australian citizenship, as he was considered British, and therefore Australian in 1949, if he was a permanent/long-term resident in Australia at that time.

If you are interested in finding out whether your father officially obtained Australian citizenship, you can submit a request for one of our reference officers to conduct a search of the naturalisation and citizenship records using the online form at www.naa.gov.au/collection/using/askquestion/index.aspx.

Regards

Tonia

(NAA staff)

s

Hi Tonia,

Thank you so much, I have my Dad's Birth Cert from South Africa and his death Cert, on his death Cert they have put Country of birth Unknown? I know that SA only applied Citizenship law in 1961, and my dad did not live in Australia as he was married and had us 6 kids, He had always told us he was Australian. I have tried to submit a Question to the link above but cannot seem to send it... will try again later. Letter below

Hi,

I am really having a problem finding my dad's "birth registration" his dad Michael Vincent Flannery was born in (Campbells Creek) Victoria and went to the Boer war 5th Mounted Rifles and then again in 1902 to 6th reg. after the war in 1902 he went back to Australia, he met my Gran Catherine (Collins) who was a nurse in Warrigul, Victoria Australia and they moved to South Africa in abt1905(moved back to Aus at some point) and got married and had my 2 Aunt's (Nora and Patrica 1909,1917), Uncle (1910 John died within the 1st year) and my dad who was born in 1919, South Africa was part of the commonwealth at that stage and the kids held British Subject status (which automatically qualified them for Australian Citizenship) my dad never held South African citizenship and pass away in 1982 with no documented citizenship, he has a South African Birth Cert but on his death cert it is unknown? (his dad Michael Vincent was the only one of eight children to leave Australia). I would like to establish his Australian Citizenship (as his last wish) as the entire family is residing in Australia.

John Flannery dob 1803 m Mary Quigley both born in Ireland? they had 3 children Edmund (1835), Michael (1838) and James (1841).

Michael Flannery dob (05/04/1838) m (25/07/1860) in Victoria Cert # 2539 Catherine Anastasia Slattery dob (1837) Michael died in Victoria on 01/08/1911 and was buried with Catherine in Pyramid Hill VIC, she died 19/02/1895 in Cohuna cert # 1184l.

They had 8 Children:

Marie Theresa 1861-1938

John Bartholomew 1863-21/02/1892 Death cert # 2246

William Edward 1864-1946

Patrick Francis 06/12/1866-

Honora Ann 1868-1962

Thomas Stephen 1869-1925

Catherine Maude 1871-1915

Michael Vincent 1875-1968

Michael Vincent dob (1875)married Catherine(nee Collins)dob 15/06/1880 born in Tralee, Ireland married 12/05/1905 in South Africa, they had Nora 1909 in Australia she died in 1995 in South Africa, they then had John Vincent in Warrigul, Victoria Australia 1910 Reg # 13410 and he died in Australia in 1911, Barham, Victoria Australia, Reg# 14740, They then had Patrcia in 1917 and Leonard Francis in 1919 my dad Leonard was born in South Africa.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

Roger Flannery  

I am looking for records of my family immigration to Australia in April 1951 to Brisbane 

family name AIKENHEAD fathers name Robert Young

control symbol 6695

item barcode 5040982

hi there

I am having trouble searching for my father as I have little information about him......he is of yugoslavian descent and as far as I know his name is Joseph Bajic? (not sure of the spelling) he was a mechanic in Wheelers Hill Victoria

thanks

amie cooper

Hi my name is Gaye Narelle Connors.Im looking for my mother and my half brothers and sisters.Can you help?Ive posted more detailed information on my wall.Thank you kindly

I am trouble finding my fathers Military Record

Major Robert Bruce MULQUINEY

ARMY NUMBER:  2/37545

INFANTRY

BORN:  TUNGAMAH VICTORIA ON 4 SEPEMBER 1913

DAD RETIRED ON 4TH SEPTEMBER 1960

Your help would be greatly appreciated

Dianne Williams (his daughter

jw-dw@live.com.au