At 46° 25´ South latitude, this is the
southern-most Branch in New Zealand
ABOUT THE BRANCH
The Southland Branch, established in 1969, draws its members from Invercargill and the rural localities nearby - Bluff, Hedgehope, Pahia, Riverton, Tussock Creek, Makarewa, Wallacetown. The Convenor (Ms Lesley Instone) is assisted by a committee of up to 9 members, and organises regular monthly meetings with speakers or visits, and when research facilities are open. Members receive a periodic newsletter 'Branch Lines' - the Vice Convenor is the Acting Compiler pro tem (and is always grateful for contributions).
The Branch, which was formed on 19 November 1969, celebrated its 40th Anniversary at a well-attended anniversary dinner in October 2009. The June 2010 edition of the Branch's newsletter (Number 44) contained notes and some pictures from that anniversary.
Neighbouring Branches or Local Area Contacts of the Society are located at Te Anau, Winton, Gore and Alexandra, with others in the southern region at Balclutha, Cromwell, Dunedin, Mosgiel, Oamaru and Wanaka. See the Society's website for contact people and details of meetings of these Branches. Visitors and/or intending members are welcomed at these meetings.
Third Wednesday of each month February~November inclusive, at 7.30 p.m. Speakers/topics are arranged, and Research facilities and assistance are available when the Resources Room is open (see details below). The Branch meets in the Invercargill Public Library. Meetings are held in the Meeting Room, (1st Floor), Invercargill Public Library, 50 Dee Street (central city), Invercargill. For non-Branch members there is a $3 door charge. Visitors welcome.
MEMBERSHIP
If you have ever wondered about your family history, where you came from, and how to trace your ancestors, then you should join the NZ Society of Genealogists. There are meetings each month, research material to study, and enthusiastic members to provide guidance and assistance.
Join the Southland Branch if you live in Invercargill or the surrounding districts. Subscriptions (yearly from April to the following March) are Single $25, Double $35. Meetings are held as above (see section on Meetings). Members have access to reference material in the research room, and
receive a periodic newsletter 'Branch Lines'.
You should consider joining the national body also - the New Zealand Society of Genealogists. A separate subscription is required; there are four membership categories. The benefits come from the Society's magazine (The New Zealand Genealogist) every two months, access to a much greater range of resources and postal research services, and an annual conference often with overseas speakers brought here. The NZ Society has an extensive website where you can find details about membership. Application forms can be downloaded from the Society's website, are available from the Southland Branch Secretary, or by writing to :
The NZ Society of Genealogists has its headquarters in the Family Research Centre, 159 Queens Road, Panmure, Auckland 1072. The Centre is open daily 10am~4pm except Tuesdays, Sundays and Public Holidays - but check details as these hours may change.
BRANCH RESOURCES
The Research Room/Library on the 1st Floor in the Invercargill Public Library will be open at the following times (except for late December and early January):
The facilities are freely available to financial members of the Southland Branch; visitors may be expected to pay a $3 day fee for access. Most of the book library material is REFERENCE ONLY, however some books and magazines may be borrowed - ask the Librarian Mary Murray for details.
Microfiche and library resources include -
Branch members are working on the following projects -
Research enquiries : Please address all correspondence to the Secretary at P.O. Box 1329, Invercargill 9840. A stamped self-addressed envelope and a donation to cover expenses for research enquiries should be enclosed if you expect/require a reply.
Forms and Charts for genealogists : Standard genealogy forms and charts are available to download from the NZSG website - click here to go directly to that page.
OTHER GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES
Bluff Maritime Museum - 241 Foreshore Road, Bluff 9814. Ph. 03-212 7534. The Museum is home to an extensive collection of models, boats, displays, photographs and documents of the maritime history of the Bluff/Foveaux Strait area. The Museum is not equipped to answer genealogical enquiries. All shipping lists etc. are held in the Invercargill Public Library, so please direct enquiries to the Library (see below).
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Family History Center, 205 North Road, Waikiwi, Invercargill 9810. Contact : Mr James Stapleforth (Ph. 03-215 7682 - on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only; 10a.m.~1p.m.). Other times by appointment.
Invercargill City Council (Parks Division) - Private Bag 90104, Invercargill 9840. Administers several cemeteries. Office on-site in the Eastern Cemetery, located at the corner of Rockdale and East Roads. Contact : The Cemetery Attendant. Ph./Fax 03-217 8362. Website: www.icc.govt.nz (see under Services/Cemeteries) Email: cemeteries@icc.govt.nz
Invercargill Public Library - 50 Dee Street, Private Bag 90111, Invercargill 9840. Ph. 03-211 1444. Website: www.ilibrary.co.nz Contact : Ms Linda Te Au (Information Services). Email: info@ilibrary.co.nz Prior advice of visits appreciated.
Southland District Council - 15 Forth Street, PO Box 903, Invercargill 9840. Phone 0800 732 732 Fax 0800 732 329. Website: www.southlanddc.govt.nz Email: emailsdc@southlanddc.govt.nz
Southland Museum and Art Gallery - Queens Park, 108 Gala Street, PO Box 1012, Invercargill 9840. Phone 03-218 9753 Fax 03-218 3872. Website: www.southlandmuseum.com Email: office@southlandmuseum.co.nz Visits by appointment please.
Wallace Early Settlers Museum/Te Hikoi - Southern Journey - 170-172 Palmerston Street, Riverton 9654. Phone 03-234 8260. Fax 03-234 8520. Website: tehikoi.co.nz/index.html Open daily 10am~4.30pm. Admission: Adults $12; Senior Citizens $9; Family $25. Contains holdings relating to the Western Southland District. Research is limited, and each enquiry is charged on assessment. The Wallace Early Settlers open their research room between 1:30 and 4:00 daily. After hours by arrangement : Alastair McLachlan, phone 03-234 8698. Resources include -
COMPUTERS in GENEALOGY
The New Zealand Society of Genealogists fosters a Genealogical Computing Special Interest Group; nationwide there are 11 sub-groups. Members have a particular interest in the use of home PC's for recording their family history on one of several programs specifically written for maintaining a genealogical database and presenting information in a variety of ways. The Genealogical Computing Group annual subscription is $15; a quarterly magazine 'GenCom News' is produced for its members. To visit their website, click here.
There is an active sub-group in Invercargill, which meets regularly to discuss, demonstrate, and learn more about computers in genealogy. Recent meetings have seen demonstrations and discussions of genealogy software, digital image photography, GEDCOM, basic web page construction, computer housekeeping, and utilities. A regular 'Problem Corner' attemps to solve members' current problems to the best of collective experience.
The Invercargill Sub-group meets on the fourth Thursday of each month, at 7.30pm, in the SeniorNet Rooms on the ground floor of the Southland Education Building (formerly the WEA building), 100 Esk Street, Invercargill. Admission is $2 per meeting (to cover room hire and supper). Anyone interested in combining genealogy and computers is welcome.
The Convenor of the Invercargill Sub-group is Ian Joll, Ph. 03-217 2152.
USEFUL LINKS
Here is a selection of links to other websites - mostly genealogy, a mix of traditional and useful, and a few about the attractions of Southland province.
Return to Contents (Trailers follow below.)
The Southland Branch Committee approved this as an official site on 23 May 2001.
This is version 3.8 of the homepage; it is under continuing development.
The author is Roger Washbourn (NZSG Member) who would welcome advice of errors and omissions.
Please report any broken links to the author.
Page format last amended 6-Feb-2003.
(This little guy helped.)
