Inquest files - City Coroner and successors (GRG1/27)

This series comprises records of coronial hearings into deaths and fires where an inquest was deemed necessary by the Coroner.

Information varies over time, but generally records the following:

- name, former residence and occupation of deceased
- date, place and cause of death
- name, address and occupation of witnesses
- reason for holding inquest
- date and place of inquest
- name of Justice of the Peace/Coroner
- transcripts of evidence and findings of inquest

Inquests for the period 1877-1930 were authorised for pulping during World War II as part of the war effort (1).

Early newspapers also published proceedings of coronial investigations. These newspaper reports can frequently be more descriptive than official reports.

Arranged by monthly single number up until 1876, and from 1931 by annual single number. Although each event was initially allocated an annual single number, only in those cases requiring an inquest was a file raised and annotated with this annual single number, resulting in apparent "missing" files.

For index see the Special List to GRG1/27 in the Research Centre, or for the period 1869-1876 use the online copy at http://www.archives.sa.gov.au/content/inquests. Click Consignment ID below for some files. See also Jill Statton, Record Series No. 3, 'Inquests' in the Research Centre, but read explanatory notes with care.

Series continues as GRS4875. For earlier inquests see GRG1/2, GRG24/6 and GRG24/11.

Inquests which belong in this series have also been located within related files in GRG1/2.

See also:

GRG1/44, Police reports to the City Coroner (especially for deaths not requiring an inquest)
GRG1/39, Police reports to the City Coroner (ditto)
GRG1/91, Burial orders
GRG5/various, Police Station inquest registers

Footnotes:

(1) GRG56/2 unit 1, March 20 1942.