Historical title searches: tracing who owned a property before

It lists the past dealings on a title: transfers, mortgages and their discharges, caveats, leases and new plans. How far back it goes depends on when the registry computerised that title. Before that, the history sits in older paper titles, which you trace one by one.

Every current title helps you start. Queensland titles list the previous title, Victorian and SA titles show parent titles, and Tasmanian titles show the prior CT. Each is the reference to order next.

Some historical searches list dealings rather than names. To see who bought or sold at each step, you may need copies of the transfer documents, ordered by their dealing numbers.

• House and family history: who built the house, who lived there, and when the land was subdivided.
• Estates and family matters: when a parent bought, or whether a property was ever held jointly. See inherited property.
• Checking a past mortgage: when a loan was registered and discharged.
• Site history before buying or building: past owners can hint at former uses, such as a service station or factory.
• Disputes: lawyers use them to establish a timeline.

Usually to when the land was first brought under the Torrens system, if you're prepared to order a chain of older titles. Each earlier title shows the one before it. For very old records, such as early grants or pre-Torrens deeds, state archives are often the next stop, and they're well set up for family historians.

Not yet. At launch we sell the current title search and the Title + Full Report. Order a historical search from the registry or an information broker as shown above.

A current title is still a good first step: it confirms the exact property and gives you the title reference and previous-title references you'll need for the historical search. We show the lot, plan and title reference before you pay, and email the registry's PDF, usually within minutes.