About

My name is Carole Riley, and Heritage Genealogy is my family history research company, established in Sydney in 2006.

I believe that to really know who you are you need to understand who your ancestors were – where they came from, what they did and why, and what their lives were like. Just as you are a product of your own family and the culture in which you were brought up, so too were your parents, grandparents, great-parents and great-great grandparents. Who they were, and what sort of people they were, is part of what has made you who you are.

I can find the details that give you more knowledge of your ancestors. Once you have talked with all the relatives and we have collected all the birth, marriage and death certificates for each of your ancestors, I can find the documents that will give you a more rounded picture of who your ancestors were.

I believe that this understanding of one’s heritage should be available to everyone and not just those who have the time and willingness to learn how to do genealogical research for themselves. With advances in technology and the availability of reliable online sources of information professional genealogical research is more accurate and affordable than ever before.

About me 

I grew up in Dubbo in the Central West of New South Wales. My mother’s family are farmers and graziers from the Blayney area, descended from Irish and English immigrants; and professionals from Albury and New Zealand, descended from Scots. My father is descended from part-European Fijians. This combination of nationalities and cultures has provided a varied and interesting genealogical background, and almost unlimited research opportunities!

I am a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists to whose standards and code of ethics I aspire. I am a Fellow of the Society of Australian Genealogists and have served as a Vice President and Honorary Editor of the journal, Descent, as well as being a regular speaker on educational topics.  I am the founder of the Sydney User Group of The Master Genealogist (TMG), and the Australia and New Zealand Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

I have a Diploma of Family Historical Studies from the Society of Australian Genealogists; a Master of Applied Science (Psychology of Coaching) and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney; and a Diploma of Professional Counselling.

The second edition of my book Land Research for family historians is out now. It is available as hardcopy or e-book from Unlock The Past. The photo on the cover is from my family’s first farm in the Blayney area.

I occasionally blog about genealogy research in NSW, Fiji and elsewhere.