There is no one answer to this question because the registration laws in each Australian state were different.

In the Victorian birth records I have come across many children recorded as 'unnamed Male' or 'unnamed Female' and I find this can mean a few different things.

It can mean the child died at birth and was not named. In this case the birth was recorded, but not always the death. It can also mean the informant for the birth was not one of the parents and did not know the name of the child when reporting the birth and the child would be recorded as 'unnamed' Male or 'unnamed' Female. It makes things harder when the sex is not recorded.

I have also come across the deaths of 'unnamed' children but unable to locate a birth record. It appears if a child died at birth only the birth or death had to be reported, and not both. I know it sounds silly but that's the way it was.

In reply to your other question about finding out if the 'unnamed' child lived or not. I have located a number of these through the death records, if they died within range of the records of course. It's not always easy, but they can be found if the informant for their death gives the correct information regarding parents names and age at death.

Cemetery and burial records may also be helpful, but I have found in most cases if a child died at birth they were not always given a headstone because that cost money.

The best way would be to obtain the death certificates for one of the parents. The first to die would be the best one to obtain. This should name their children and give their ages and will give you something to work with. It will be a good start.

If you would like to name the parents of the NR children I'm sure some kind person may be able to assist you further. There are some great research members with familytreecircles ... sorry to say I'm not one of them.

Keep on looking - and good luck with your research.

It simply means that the infant had not been given a name at the time of the birth registration. Maybe if you read this 150 years of Birth Registration in NSW may answer your question.

All Tonkin has said is right. And a lot of those infant deaths registered were children not baptised, therefore no record of birth.

In NSW if your ancestor was not registered at birth and you have proof of birth you may register them now. I found this out quite by accident when I queried this birth below.
181697/2005 MCFARLANE ANN I ANDREW P LILLIE

Thank you for your responses
I should of given you more infomation this was on the New Zealand Birth Deaths and Marriages Registry.

Same thing. The child was born to so and so on such and such a date but the childs Name was not Recorded at the time of registration. Even a certificate will not show anything but a surname, date and place.