The Registry's records go back to the first white settlement in the colony of New South Wales in 1788. In those early years the churches assumed responsibility for recording the details of baptisms, burials and marriages which they performed. The Registry has transcriptions of these records.

In 1856 the Government took over the function of recording all births, deaths and marriages from the churches.

The Registry now has over 17 million records of all birth, death and marriage events that occurred in New South Wales.

A similar registration system operates in each Australian State and Territory. Records relating to events which occurred interstate can be traced by inquiring with that state's Registry office.