How do I search for an obituary by name

Finding obituaries in Australia and learning how to search for an obituary is a much easier process these days thanks to the resources we now have available. Discover the best resources, both online and offline, to locate the obituary you need.

Now, let us walk you through how to search for an obituary by name.  

Find notices in the newspaper

If your local community newspaper no longer publishes obituaries or death and funeral notices, you can still find them in most metropolitan state newspapers. Check these local and state newspapers to search for the latest obituary, funeral, and death notices:

• The Daily Telegraph
• Herald Sun
• The Courier-Mail
• The Advertiser
• Tweed Daily News
• Sunshine Coast Daily
• Warwick Daily News
• The Mercury
• The Gympie Times
• The Toowoomba Chronicle

Search for an obituary by name

My Tributes provides a convenient online platform where you can access all obituaries for free. Here's how you can search for an obituary:

1. Visit mytributes.com.au and navigate to the "Obituaries & Eulogies" section
2. Type the obituary name in the "Search obituaries & eulogies" bar and click "Go". 
3. If your obituary search did not return any results, try checking the spelling. Otherwise, you can search all death and funeral notices and tributes and condolence listings. This is how you can do that:

View death and funeral notices online

My Tributes provides a convenient online platform where you can access all funeral and death notices as well as tributes and condolences for free. Here's how to search them:

1. Visit mytributes.com.au and click on the "Notices" option in the top banner.
2. Select "View Death Notices" to view all current death notices, organised by date.
3. Select "View Funeral Notices" to view all current funeral notices, organised by date.
4. Use the "Search filter" located on the top banner and left hand banner to narrow your search further. If you're only interested in looking at death or funeral notices, you can also select a specific category here too.

Find historical notices online

My Tributes' archive dates back to 1991, offering a wealth of historical death, funeral and tribute notices. Here's how to explore historical notices:

1. After using the search methods mentioned above, you'll find a "Filter" button next to "Go" with three lines.
2. Click on the "Filter" button to add filters to your search.
3. You can refine your search by selecting a specific date range or publication.
4. Explore within your chosen filters to find more historical notices.

Public libraries

When searching for an obituary, local libraries are a great resource. They hold archives of local newspapers, both digitally and on microfilm, making them a great source of information. Librarians are there to guide you, offering their expertise in narrowing down your search and helping you to locate the obituary you seek. Utilise these resources to uncover precious memories and rich family history. 

Explore additional resources

If you need access to a broader range of historical notices, consider utilising family-tree tracing services or accessing state government records through State or National libraries or the respective government websites. The Ryerson Index online can also serve as a valuable resource for finding archived historical notices.

Searching for an obituary by name in Australia is now more accessible than ever. My Tributes, with its extensive archive of, not only obituaries, but death notices, funeral notices, tributes and condolences offers a reliable platform for your search. Whether you prefer the convenience of an online search or prefer to rely on local or state newspapers, you can find the obituary you're seeking. Remember to explore other historical archives and utilise family-tree tracing services and government resources for a more comprehensive search.

Begin your quest to search for an obituary today and uncover the precious history of our ancestors.