Research Advice

Researching the History of Your House

On This Page

• Where can I get the building plans for my house?
• What if local council directs me to State Records?
• I want to find out when my house was built?
• How do I find out who previously owned my house?
• How do I find who previously lived in my house?
• Was my house used as a shop or other business?
• How do I find out about heritage-listed houses?
• What other sources of information are available?

Where can I get the building plans for my house?

The local council maintains floor plans, elevation and site plans included in the application provided to the council, at the time the house was built or extended. You should check with your local council to see if they still hold copies of the building plans. Availability and access will vary from council to council.

Note: Currently State Records does not hold these records.

What if local council directs me to State Records?

It is very unlikely that State Records will have the floor, elevation or site plans for your house. However, State Records does maintain a list of councils for which we hold some other building records and property files, for example, Building Registers. These registers may provide information such as the date the house was built.

Records held by us can be viewed at our Research Centres.

Related Information:

• City Research Centre and Training Facility
• Gepps Cross Research Centre

I want to find out when my house was built?

The Lands Services Group (sometimes referred to as Lands Titles) holds records about property ownership and land boundary information. In some cases the Land Services Group can provide an over-the-counter building details search, which includes the year the house was built, the building condition, wall construction and roof construction.

Other information, including the certificate of title reference number, valuation and plan type reference numbers and sales details, is also available. This service, called PropertyAssist, is also available on the PropertyAssist website or via the help desk at (08) 8204 9015. Please note, charges apply for this service.

The Lands Services Group website also includes the Property Location Browser. This is a free map-based interface where you can search on an address and view details of land administration boundaries. For example, hundreds, local council area, state and federal electorates and land parcel reference numbers. It will also provide the certificate of title and valuation reference numbers.

How do I find out who previously owned my house?

The current electronic Certificate of Title lists the present owners of the house. To find the original or prior owners of your house, you will need to search back through the previous titles to the property. To search previous titles contact Land Services Group either over the counter at 101 Grenfell Street, Adelaide, or by telephoning their Call Centre on (08) 8226 3998. Visit the Land Services Group website for more information, including the cost of this service.

How do I find who previously lived in my house?

Previous occupancy can be traced through the rates paid to the local council. Rates were recorded in Council Assessment Books, which are generally held at State Records.

Assessment Books are useful in the case of rented properties as the names of the occupants will differ from those of the owners.

State Records also holds sale plans for housing blocks, especially for the early 20th century, some of which have details about the sale price and purchaser (reference GRG21/31).

Records held by us can be viewed at our Research Centres.

Related Information:

• City Research Centre and Training Facility
• Gepps Cross Research Centre

Was my house used as a shop or other business?

State Records holds various local council records in which changes of use of a building may be recorded. For example, Assessment Books, health inspector's reports and the council meeting minutes.

Newspaper advertisements and the directories, held by the State Library of South Australia, may also be useful.

How do I find out about heritage-listed houses?

You can search the Planning in South Australia Heritage Places database to find out which houses in your area are heritage listed. This database lists the section of the building that is heritage listed (i.e. the whole building or significant section) and provides the plan/parcel and certificate of title reference numbers.

For more information, see Development Plans on the Planning in South Australia website.

What other sources of information are available?

Adelaide City Council Archives
For information relating to buildings in the Adelaide CBD the Adelaide City Council Archives holds city building plans dating from 1924. The Archives also has Assessment Books (from 1847) which may assist you to find the age and use of properties as well as the name of occupants and owners. The Archives are located in Topham Arcade, off 55 Currie Street, Adelaide. Visit the Adelaide City Council website for more information.

Louis Laybourne Smith School Architecture Museum
If you know the name of the architect who designed your house, you could try the Louis Laybourne Smith School Architecture Museum. The Architecture Museum holds South Australian produced architectural and related records. The Museum is open to the public on Monday and Tuesday, 9am-5pm. Intending visitors should arrange an appointment by contacting the Collections Manager, Dr Julie Collins, by phoning (08) 8302 9235 or emailing Dr Julie Collins.

State Library of South Australia
The State Library of South Australia has a good collection of local and regional histories. They also have almanacs and directories which give the names of resident by street name or suburb. For more information visit the State Library of South Australia website.

Local Library
Check out your local library collection for publications on the historical development of your area. Published histories of the area, often compiled by a local historian or heritage group, may provide valuable background information on building development and often include pictures of houses in the area.

Local Community
Don't forget to talk to the residents in your street and nearby. They can be an invaluable source of information about the building development of the street or the ownership and occupancy of your house.