1216.0 - Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), July 2011  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 05/10/2011  Final
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

PREFACE

This is the final edition of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC). It has been used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) since 1984 for the collection and dissemination of geographically classified statistics. It is an essential reference for understanding and interpreting the geographical context of statistics published by the ABS.

The ASGC provides seven hierarchies of geographical areas. Each structure is designed to suit different statistical purposes. This edition has four current structures. The Main Structure and the Statistical Region Structure cover the whole of Australia. The Local Government Area Structure and the Statistical District Structure cover only part of Australia. The three remaining structures, Urban Centres and Localities, Section of State and Remoteness Structures, have not been included as Census Collection Districts are no longer defined. These structures are now defined in the new Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

The ASGS has been released concurrently with the ASGC to ensure a smooth transition to the new statistical geography. The ASGS and the ASGC will both be current for 2011 however, from 1 July 2012 the ASGS will replace the ASGC.

The ASGS brings all the regions for which the ABS publishes statistics within the one framework and will be used by the ABS for the collection and dissemination of geographically classified statistics progressively from 1 July 2011. The ASGS is a more comprehensive, flexible and consistent way of defining Australia’s statistical geography.

For further information regarding the ASGC and the ASGS, please refer to the ABS Geography web portal at abs.gov.au/geography or, contact ABS Geography by email geography@abs.gov.au or by writing to Locked Bag 10, Belconnen, ACT 2616.

Brian Pink

Australian Statistician