NSW directories online for FREE!

Some great news if your ancestors lived in Sydney - the Sands Directories are online for FREE (we love that!) and searchable (click here)    they are also available  at Newtown council

Advertisement in the 1868 directory

Here is what the City of Sydney website has to say about them:

The firm of John Sands Ltd (Printers and Stationers) published their directory each year from 1858-59 to 1932-33 (except for 1872, 1874, 1878 and 1881). The household and business information it contains has become a fundamental source for research into Sydney history, especially family history.
Until now the directory has usually been accessed through a microfiche edition made by WF Pascoe Ltd which is available at many public libraries.
The City of Sydney has now obtained a complete digital edition of the directory from WF Pascoe, scanned from the microfiche, and is making it available for public access through this website.  This is the first time a complete set of Sands Sydney, Suburban and Country Commercial Directory has been made available online.

This complete digital directory offers researchers easier and more convenient access. It includes search capability not available when using the microfiche. It’s an important addition to the range of archival source material the City of Sydney makes available online through our Archives program.

First page of the alphabetical listing in 1868

Using this information will help you track where your ancestors lived in Sydney, and  what occupation they had.  I was able to track down my uncle's movements as a minister through the Sands directories, it is a very useful source of information.

 -------------------------------------