# Postal Areas

Postal Areas (POAs) are designed to approximate postcode boundaries as closely as possible. They enable comparison of ABS data with other data collected using postcodes as the geographic reference.

Since the 2016 Census, POAs have been approximated from Mesh Blocks rather than Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1s), which enables POAs to ressemble the associated postcodes more closely. Due to this change in methodology for approximating, there were unallocated postcodes listed in the previous 2011 and 2016POA_readme documents for the DataPack product that no longer apply.

When working with data on POAs, it is important to remember that the data relates to the POA boundary and not to the postcode boundary. There are some official postcodes that are not included in POAs. This occurs when a Mesh Block cannot be allocated to a postcode. There are two situations where this occurs:
#  a Mesh Block covers more than one whole postcode, and the Mesh Block can be allocated to only one postcode
#  more than one Mesh Block partly covers a postcode, but all the Mesh Blocks are allocated to other postcodes, based on population

Postal Areas exclude postcodes that are not street delivery areas. These include post office boxes, mail back competitions, large volume receivers and specialist delivery postcodes. These postcodes are only valid for postal addresses and are not a valid location for population data.

Where POAs cross state or territory borders, standard Census products will provide data for the entire POA. The following table lists these POAs,

POAs that cross state / territory borders
+----------+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| PostCode |         Allocated to         |             Included States and Territories             |
+----------+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|     0872 | Northern Territory           | Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia  |
|     2540 | New South Wales              | New South Wales, Other Territories                      |
|     2611 | Australian Capital Territory | New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory           |
|     2620 | New South Wales              | New South Wales, Queensland                             |
|     2618 | Australian Capital Territory | New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory           |
|     2406 | New South Wales              | New South Wales, Queensland                             |
|     3707 | Victoria                     | Victoria, New South Wales                               |
|     3691 | Victoria                     | Victoria, New South Wales                               |
|     3644 | Victoria                     | Victoria, New South Wales                               |
|     4375 | Queensland                   | Queensland, New South Wales                             |
|     4377 | Queensland                   | Queensland, New South Wales                             |
|     4380 | Queensland                   | Queensland, New South Wales                             |
|     4383 | Queensland                   | Queensland, New South Wales                             |
|     4385 | Queensland                   | Queensland, New South Wales                             |
|     4825 | Queensland                   | Queensland, Northern Territory                          |
+----------+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

The codes used for ASGS 2021 Edition 3, Postal Areas may not match those used in past editions. This is because postcodes can be abolished, postcode boundaries adjusted, or new postcodes created between editions of the ASGS.

A detailed discussion of the POAs and the criteria used in their design can be found at: Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 - Non ABS Structures, July 2021 - June 2026 https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/standards/australian-statistical-geography-standard-asgs-edition-3/jul2021-jun2026/non-abs-structures

# Geography
Further information is available in the ‘ASGS Fact Sheets’ and ‘Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)’ chapters of the ABS Statistical Geography website at http://www.abs.gov.au/geography.

Any statistical geography questions or comments can be emailed to: geography@abs.gov.au.
# Assistance
Data Services (DS) 
DS consultants have been trained in the range of statistical data and information that is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). For straightforward enquiries, we are able to provide limited free data and information to you over the phone. 
For complex or wide-ranging enquiries about ABS data, we can assist you to find what you need by emailing Client.services@abs.gov.au.  In some instances, data may need to be compiled for you on a fee-for-service basis.

DS (DS) Ph: 1300 135 070.



