Finding forgotten roots: A free family history session for Indian and Sri Lankan Australians

By Our Reporter
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Australians with Indian and Sri Lankan ancestry are being offered a rare opportunity to connect with their past through a free session led by family historian Smita Biswas at the Carnegie Library and Community Centre this August.

The one-hour workshop, running on Friday 22 August from 3pm to 4pm, is part of Family History Month and will focus on practical ways to trace lineages from the subcontinent. Smita Biswas, who has helped hundreds uncover their ancestry, will share insights on surnames, archival records and research techniques, specifically tailored to those with South Asian heritage.

For many in the diaspora, especially those whose families migrated to Australia decades ago, the idea of looking back beyond grandparents can seem daunting. Names may have changed, languages lost, and official records hard to access. Smita believes it’s possible to work around those gaps.

Participants will be introduced to the basics of genealogical research, from understanding the naming conventions used across regions in India and Sri Lanka to exploring colonial-era documentation and immigration records. Smita will also walk attendees through some of the official archives available in Australia and abroad, and how to access them effectively.

The session is free and open to anyone aged 16 and over, but bookings are essential via trybooking.com/DAVMF. With interest in ancestry growing steadily in multicultural communities, particularly among younger Australians, the event is expected to fill quickly.

According to ABS data, people born in India now make up the third-largest overseas-born population in Australia, and Tamil and Sinhalese-speaking communities from Sri Lanka have long been established in cities like Melbourne. Yet despite these numbers, family history tools and expertise tailored to the South Asian context remain relatively limited.

For some, the search for ancestral stories is deeply personal, a way to reconnect with language, identity and tradition. For others, it’s about finding missing pieces in a family puzzle.

Libraries and community centres have increasingly become the bridge between individuals and their histories, with local councils encouraging cultural heritage programmes. Events like this not only serve those looking for answers, but also help build awareness about how diverse the Australian story really is.

The event is part of Glen Eira Libraries’ broader Family History Month activities and aims to support more inclusive historical storytelling.

For those ready to begin their research journey, or pick up the threads of one long begun, this could be the afternoon that opens a new chapter.

  • Researching your Indian and Sri Lankan family history
  • Friday 22 August 2pm–3pm
  • Carnegie Library and Community Centre
  • Book here: https://brnw.ch/21wU9bQ
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