How to Find a Death Notice in Australia: A Complete Guide, 2025

Why Finding a Death Notice Matters

Losing a loved one is a difficult experience, and finding a death notice can provide important details about funeral arrangements, memorial services, and how to send condolences. Whether you’re searching for a friend, family member, or historical record, there are several ways to locate death notices in Australia.

At FuneralSmart, we aim to make the process easier by providing a central place for funeral information and services. In this guide, we’ll explore the best ways to find recent and historical death notices across Australia.

Where to Find Death Notices in Australia

1. Online Death Notice & Obituary Websites

Many Australian newspapers and online platforms publish death notices and obituaries. Here are some of the most popular sources:

Ryerson Index (ryersonindex.org) – A volunteer-run database of Australian death notices, mainly from newspapers.
Australian Death & Funeral Notices (mytributes.com.au) – A national online tribute website with obituaries and death notices.
Legacy.com Australia (legacy.com) – A global platform that partners with newspapers to publish obituaries.

2. Major Newspaper Death Notices

Most major Australian newspapers have an online obituary section. Here’s where to check:

Sydney Morning Herald Tributes (tributes.smh.com.au)
The Age Obituaries (tributes.theage.com.au)
Courier Mail Death Notices (couriermail.com.au/tributes)
West Australian Death Notices (westannouncements.com.au)
The Advertiser Obituaries (Adelaide) (adelaidenow.com.au/tributes)

Many regional newspapers also publish local death notices. If you’re searching for someone from a smaller town, check their community newspaper website.

3. Funeral Home Websites

Most funeral directors post death notices for their clients. Some of the largest funeral providers in Australia include:

4. Government Death Records & Registries

For official death records and certificates, each Australian state and territory has a Births, Deaths & Marriages (BDM) registry:

NSW – NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages
VIC – Victoria BDM
QLD – Queensland BDM
WA – Western Australia BDM
SA – South Australia BDM
TAS – Tasmania BDM
ACT – ACT BDM
NT – Northern Territory BDM

⚠️ Important: Government death records are not publicly available for recent deaths due to privacy laws. However, historical death records (typically 30+ years old) may be accessible for genealogical research.

5. Social Media & Community Memorial Pages

Many families now share obituaries and memorials on social media. Try searching:

Facebook Memorial Pages – Families often create tribute pages for their loved ones.
Community Groups – Local Facebook groups or online forums may have information about recent passings.

6. Cemetery & Memorial Websites

If you’re looking for burial or cremation details, try:

Find A Grave (findagrave.com) – A global database of cemetery records.
Australian Cemeteries Index (austcemindex.com) – A directory of Australian burial sites.

What If You Can’t Find a Death Notice?

If you can’t locate a death notice, here are a few things you can do:

✔️ Check multiple sources – Not all deaths are published in newspapers.

✔️ Contact the funeral home – If you know which funeral director is handling the service, they may provide details.

✔️ Search by alternative names – Some notices may list a nickname or middle name.

✔️ Reach out to family members – They may have shared the notice privately.

Why FuneralSmart is Your Best Resource for Funeral Information

At FuneralSmart, we help families and individuals navigate the funeral planning process with ease. Whether you’re looking for:

✅ Death Notices & Obituaries

✅ Funeral Planning Advice

✅ Affordable Funeral Services

✅ Cremation & Burial Options

We provide smart, simple, and transparent funeral information to help you make the best decisions.

🔍 Want to Find a Death Notice Now? Visit FuneralSmart to start your search today.

Final Thoughts

Finding a death notice in Australia doesn’t have to be difficult. By using online obituary databases, newspaper listings, funeral home websites, and government registries, you can access the information you need.

💙 Have questions? Need funeral advice? FuneralSmart is here to help.

👉 Contact Us Today for more funeral resources.