Housetory Research Guide
There is no single source that tells the whole story. Our preferred method is to establish the place first, build a reliable chronology from directories and other records, then follow the people, events and wider sources that the evidence points you towards.
Start by proving that you have the right place and the right historical address. Names can repeat, streets can be renumbered, suburbs can change and boundaries can move. Once the place is anchored, people and events become much easier to follow without accidentally joining the wrong stories together.
Confirm the present-day address, street, suburb or locality and note any useful identifiers already known.
Before following a resident or newspaper story, check whether the address itself changed through time.
For Sydney research, directories are often the best early anchor because they can show the address year by year.
Once a place and date range are established, use the names and occupations you have found to broaden the search.
Now follow the strongest leads into wider sources. Housetory currently provides or links into several useful research avenues.
Interesting search results are leads, not automatically facts.
Prefer two or more independent clues when making an important claim. If sources disagree, keep the disagreement visible until it can be resolved.
Once the evidence is understood, organise it into the parts of Housetory that best preserve it.
Focus first on address continuity, occupants and the property itself. Directory sequences are especially useful for showing who was associated with the address and when. Then widen into newspapers, property records, maps, photos and local publications.
Think beyond one property. Track old street names, numbering schemes, subdivisions, development patterns, businesses, notable buildings, transport, public works and events that affected the whole street. Individual Houses can then become evidence within the wider Street Story.
Establish the place's name, location, boundaries and function through time. Look for name changes, ownership or management, community use, events, organisations, photographs, maps and local publications. For parks, schools, churches, halls and similar places, institutional or community archives can be particularly valuable.
Lantern helps organise and review possible evidence while you research a specific House or other supported context. It should help you follow leads, not replace your judgement. Dottie is the self-guided help layer: ask her what a step means, why a source box is needed, what evidence you are trying to capture, or what to do next.
Housetory does not treat an automated suggestion, transcription or search result as proof by itself. Review the original evidence before relying on it publicly.
Record where each important fact came from. Good local history is not only about finding an answer; it is about leaving enough evidence for the next person to understand how you reached it, check it and improve it later.