As part of Tenterfield Shire Council's sesquicentennial celebrations in November, Tenterfield Family History Group is assembling a register of those families that have been part of the shire's community, through thick and thin, since its official establishment 150 years ago.

The two prerequisites for inclusion in the Sesquicentennial Pioneer Families project are that the ancestors arrived before 1871, and that their descendants have since had a continuous presence in the shire.

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The group's Kay Hurtz said that while it has to be a continuous line of descendants it doesn't have to be a straight line. It could diverge through an uncle or cousin, for instance, as long as the family is represented.

"It's the families that have stuck by Tenterfield, generation after generation," she said.

Generally this will mean 4-6 generations but some have more. The Pitkins, for example, arrived in 1862 and are now up to eight generations later.

Application forms to be part of the register are available from Tenterfield Library or by emailing tenterfieldfhg@gmail.com. The form asks the year of arrival and the names and addresses of each generation. The group is also interested in the oldest and youngest family member still around today.

A separate form is required for each side of the family tree if both meet the criteria.

Completed forms can be returned to the library or emailed back, whereupon group members will check the timeline. Mrs Hurtz said the Family History Group can also lend a hand if anyone's unsure of their eligibility.

She hopes to get 100 families for the roll of honour, which will be included in the book being published by council to mark the milestone. The project is also sure to incite some interest in tracing local family trees.