I'm Liliana Van Heel, a professional genealogist and family historian who is passionate about uncovering the forgotten stories of people and places from the past. My work as a family historian is focussed on multidisciplinary research, drawing information from a vast range of sources to provide the fullest picture of your family history on both a micro and macro level. For example, when researching family history, I don’t just look for birth, death, and marriage (BDM) records. Instead, I research a broad range of sources, including BDM records, newspapers, gazettes, photographs, land records, censuses, electoral rolls, military records, oral histories, legal records, and will and probate records.

I also research the broader historical context of your ancestor’s lives, making sure to question what might have been happening at the time and/or place your ancestors lived - researching not just what they did, but also what local and global factors may have shaped their lives. For example, when researching a Scottish person who immigrated to Australia during the 1850s, I research both their actual immigration records, and what was happening in Scotland and Australia during this period that may have influenced their decision to immigrate. Together, these two strands of research reveal powerful insights into the choices and influences that shaped our ancestors’ lives.

I became a genealogist and family historian because I feel it is so important to honour those who have come before us - remembering our ancestors is one of the greatest gifts we can give both them and ourselves. 

Every family is unique, with their own unique history and traditions. I hope that I can help you discover the many amazing stories I'm sure your family tree has to offer.

Qualifications

I hold a Diploma of Family History from the University of Tasmania, during which I studied a wide range of subjects.

Throughout the Diploma I consistently received positive feedback from lecturers on my strong research skills, attention to detail, and precise referencing. 

My research specialities include (but are not limited to):

Australian family history since 1788, particularly immigration, convict, and Gold Rush era history.

Australian history and society, particularly Australia’s settler-colonial history.

The Australian WWI experience, including researching the service of Australian WWI soldiers.

Scottish family history and genealogy, including Scottish immigration to Australia.

Irish family history, including immigration to Australia.

Cornish family history and Cornish immigration to Australia, particularly Victoria.

Further Study

In 2023, I decided to continue my professional development by returning to the University of Tasmania to study a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in History.

Throughout my degree, I have studied a broad range of topics and developed research specialties in several key areas.

I look forward to updating the Family, Folk and History website in the near future to reflect this after I complete the final unit in my degree in mid 2026.