1252.0.55.001 - National Localities Index, Australia, Jul 2007 Final  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/07/2007  Ceased
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AUSTRALIAN STANDARD GEOGRAPHICAL CLASSIFICATION (ASGC)


MAIN STRUCTURE OF THE ASGC

The Main Structure of the ASGC is used to collect and disseminate a broad range of ABS social, demographic and economic statistics. These are statistics with a ‘where’ dimension.

The ASGC Main Structure code to which a Locality is coded has nine digits. It comprises codes representing the top four hierarchical levels of the Main Structure.

The four hierarchical levels are:
  • State/Territory (S/T)
  • Statistical Division (SD)
  • Statistical Subdivision (SSD)
  • Statistical Local Area (SLA).

In this structure, the SLAs aggregate to form SSDs which in turn aggregate to form SDs and the SDs aggregate to form S/Ts. All levels cover the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps.

Details of the ASGC are available in the publication Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (cat. no. 1216.0).

State/Territory (S/T) (1 digit code)

The S/T is identified by a unique one digit code and is the first digit or component of the nine digit ASGC code. The S/T is the largest spatial unit in the Main Structure. Codes for the States and Territories in Australia are as follows:

1 New South Wales
2 Victoria
3 Queensland
4 South Australia
5 Western Australia
6 Tasmania
7 Northern Territory
8 Australian Capital Territory
9 Other Territories

S/Ts consist of one or more SDs and cover the whole of Australia (as defined for statistical purposes) without gaps or overlaps. They encompass the geographic areas of the Australian States, mainland Territories and the external Territories of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. ‘Other Territories’ is an aggregate, for statistical purposes, of the external Territories and Jervis Bay Territory.

Statistical Division (SD) (2 digit code)

SDs are large regional type spatial units and aggregate to form S/Ts. Any one SD consists of one or more SSDs. They cover, in aggregate, the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. The two digit SD code must be used with the relevant S/T code for unique identification Australia-wide.

Statistical Subdivision (SSD) (2 digit code)

SSDs are smaller regional type spatial units and aggregate to form SDs. Any one SSD consists of one or more SLAs. They cover, in aggregate, the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. SSD codes are unique within each SD. The two digit SSD code must be used with the relevant SD and S/T code for unique identification Australia-wide.

Statistical Local Area (SLA) (4 digit code)


The SLA is the smallest spatial unit for the compilation and publication of economic, social and demographic statistics other than those collected in population censuses. SLAs can be local government areas, or parts thereof, or any unincorporated area. They cover, in aggregate, the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. The four digit SLA code must be preceded by at least the S/T code for unique identification Australia-wide.

Example of ASGC code
The ASGC code 110051720 can be broken down as follows:



S/TSDSSDSLA

1
New South Wales
10
Hunter
05
Newcastle
1720
Cessnock (C)