Melbourne Genealogist

From Little Things
Big Things Grow

Unearth the seeds of your family tree and discover your ancestral story.

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Where did my family come from?

What was Grandma doing during the war?

Is that story about great Aunt Ethel really true?

If you’ve ever asked yourself questions like these and are unsure how to answer them, Little Things Genealogy can help.

With over 40 years research experience and formal qualifications as a professional genealogist and family historian, I love nothing more than helping people uncover their family histories and mysteries.

At Little Things Genealogy, I bring together compassionate storytelling and evidence-based research to help you understand your family’s past.

Based in Australia and working with clients around the world, I specialise in family tree building, solving genealogical brick walls, and revealing the stories hidden in historical records.

Welcome to my website!

The image shows the name 'Tereza Collis' written in light blue cursive handwriting on a black background.
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About Me

I started researching my family history after my Nanna showed me her grandparent’s marriage certificate. That was over 40 years ago, and I have been researching ever since. Along the way I’ve undertaken a number of genealogy courses and gained formal qualifications in family history, and love helping others uncover their family histories and mysteries

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How I Can Help

Every research project is unique. You may be looking for a family tree chart or deeper research into your ancestors and their lives. Or perhaps you have a brick wall you are trying to break down. Whatever it is you are curious about, here are some of the ways I can help

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Story Archive

Over the years I have discovered many a fascinating ancestor and solved quite a few family mysteries. You can read about some of my genealogical adventures in my Story Archive

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Testimonials

  • Evie, 2024 (Castlemaine, Australia)

    I fortuitously came across an ad for Teresa and Little Things Genealogy, and immediately contacted her to see if she could find information on my Mother. Mom had been trying to find out more about her family as she was adopted at the age of 3 in South Africa, but she had been unsuccessful.

    Teresa in such a short time found a huge amount of information. She continued to find more and more info, way beyond my expectations!
    Teresa had so much knowledge about how to access relevant sources to find out about my Mother’s story.
    At the end, she wrote a concise, detailed report on all her findings, with Family Trees included.
    I cannot recommend Teresa more highly.

  • Andrew, 2024 (Melbourne, Australia)

    I have been researching my family history for the last decade and over that time Teresa Collis has been the best genealogist I have come across. Teresa is a genuine partner in bringing a family story to life and has incredible capacity to access a wide range of resources to break through brick walls. In one instance, Teresa used military records to track a family across the UK, Ireland and South Africa! I give her the highest recommendation.

  • Deirdre, 2024 (Kyneton, Australia)

    Thank you, Teresa, for the information you have sent me, it has been invaluable to my little family tree.

  • Betty, 2023 (New Zealand)

    I am so lucky that you have come into my life Teresa, as you have so kindly shared so much of my family history with me, I will be forever grateful and cannot thank you enough. Once again you have turned up trumps regarding my husband’s Grandfather, thank you so much. A big thank you for the work you have done on his side of the family.

  • Celia, 2021 (UK)

    Goodness me that is smart work that you have done on the picture. Thank you so so much for this information. I hadn’t been able to decipher that signature but it does all seem to tie up and is so interesting.

Latest From The Blog

Blog
The Gifts and Shadows of Online Family Trees
The Gifts and Shadows of Online Family Trees

An online family tree can open up new possibilities — but the trees we find don’t always connect to our family, and the stories they suggest may not be our own.

Read More →
What A Death Certificate Can Tell Us About Life
What A Death Certificate Can Tell Us About Life

A death certificate doesn’t just record how a life ended — it can offer cluesbout a person’s life, their community, and the times they lived in.

Read More →

Geneaology FAQs

  • A genealogist researches family history by tracing people, relationships, and events through historical records, archives, and—where appropriate—DNA evidence. Genealogy research may include identifying and verifying family connections, locating records across different countries and time periods, and interpreting what those records actually mean.

    Beyond gathering names and dates, a genealogist helps make sense of the information—placing individuals within their social, cultural, and historical context so that a family tree becomes a coherent, accurate, and evidence-based story.

  • A genealogist can help you build a family tree from the beginning, extend an existing tree, or focus on a specific question or individual. This might involve tracing earlier generations, identifying unknown ancestors, or clarifying how different branches connect.
    Just as importantly, a genealogist ensures that each step is supported by reliable evidence, so that your family tree is not only larger, but more accurate and meaningful.

  • Many people begin their family history research themselves, often using online platforms. Over time, they may reach a point where records become harder to find, information becomes unclear, or different sources appear to conflict.
    A professional genealogist brings experience in navigating complex records, interpreting incomplete information, and working across multiple sources. This can save time, avoid costly mistakes, and provide confidence that your family history is grounded in evidence rather than assumption.

  • Online platforms such as Ancestry provide access to large collections of historical records and online family trees, which can be a valuable starting point for family history research. However, these platforms do not verify the accuracy of the information they contain.

    A professional genealogist goes beyond what is readily available online—searching specialised archives, interpreting original documents, and assessing the reliability of each source. They also critically evaluate online family trees, which may contain errors or unproven connections, and ensure that any conclusions about your family history are supported by evidence.

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