Inquests

Prior to 1976 Coroners inquests in Western Australia were destroyed after 10 years. However, there are sources where one can find some details of coroner's inquests. Details of inquests from the late 1800s and early 1900s can often be located in Colonial Secretary’s Office records and newspapers. Results of inquests were sometimes published in the Police Gazette of Western Australia, and an index to inquests, reported between 1876 and 1903 is available. For the 20th century reports of inquests can be located in newspapers (especially country newspapers) and local court records (see AN 17, Series Registration System and The Catalogue to locate local court records). Coroner's reports in court records may give a full report including evidence by various witnesses and verdict. Some coroner's records of interest are:

Albany

• AU WA S1646 cons348 130-134: Clerk of Courts Albany. Coronial Inquests 1864-1875

Boulder

• AU WA S3591 cons1299 184-185: Boulder Police Station. Inquests Books 1911-1924, 1932-1937

Broome

• AU WA S563 cons 563 1: Broome Courthouse. Register of Inquests 1941-1956
  Shows name of deceased, date of death, age, date of inquest, witnesses, finding, remarks. Alphabetical index at front for some entries.

Carnarvon

• ACC 544: Post Mortem Book 1904-1933. Kept by Resident Medical Officer, Carnarvon

Cue

• AU WA S1578 cons786 71: Clerk of Courts Cue. List of Coronial Enquiries 1905-1910
• AU WA S1578 cons786 388: Clerk of Courts Cue. Coronial Enquiries 1898
  Loose folios regarding individual coronial enquiries.
• AU WA S1770 cons5261 1: Clerk of Courts Cue. Inquests and Coronial Enquiries 1941-1952
  Details generally include names of persons involved, date and magistrate's name.

Dongara

• AU WA S462 cons3931 1-44: Dongara Police Station. Reports for the Coroner 1964-1987
  These are files raised for investigating sudden deaths and contain death certificates, police reports, post-mortem examinations and any other information required by the Coroner.

Leonora

• ACC 2689: Leonora Courthouse. Inquest Minute Book 1904-1909

Onslow

• ACC 1256/5: Onslow Police Station. Coroner's Inquests 1913-1927

Pingelly

• ACC 1482/2: Pingelly Police Station. Inquests Book 1921-1930

Wiluna

• AU WA S2075 cons5544 1-9: Wiluna Police Station. Coroner's Reports 1967-1983

Yalgoo

• ACC 1329: Yalgoo Coroner's Court. Coroner's Inquiry Book 1897-1948

General

• AU WA S161 cons3587 1: Supreme Court. Indexes to Inquests 1904-1911
  Provides name of deceased and verdict (cause of death).