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Australia Post introduced postal or ZIP codes in 1967, replacing earlier postal sorting systems. Australian postcodes consist of four digits, written at the end of the address of the destination, after the name of the city, suburb, or town, and the state or territory. The first two digits of the ZIP code indicate the state or region. For example, the postcode for Sydney is 2000, and for Adelaide, it is 5000.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of digits | 4 |
| Format | First two digits indicate the state or region |
| Postcode is written at the end of the address of the destination | |
| City name is written before the postcode | |
| Postcode is written in four boxes in the lower right corner of the envelope | |
| Exceptions | Some towns and suburbs have two postcodes, one for street deliveries and another for post office boxes |
| Some places in Australia, typically remote areas with little or no population, do not have postcodes | |
| Australia's external territories are included in the postcode system, but they do not belong to any state | |
| Capital city postcodes end with three zeroes, while territorial capital cities end with two zeroes |
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What You'll Learn
Australian postal codes were introduced in 1967
In 1967, the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) introduced postal codes in Australia. The four-digit postal code system was implemented to replace earlier postal sorting methods, such as Melbourne's alphanumeric codes (e.g. N3, E5) and similar systems used in rural and regional New South Wales. The introduction of postal codes coincided with the adoption of a large-scale mechanical mail sorting system, marking a significant step towards modernising Australia's postal infrastructure.
The initial digit of each postcode was derived from the numerical prefixes of Australian radio call signs, which were based on state and territory borders. Over time, the postcodes evolved independently of the radio system. For instance, the 8000 series now refers to special addresses in Victoria. It is worth noting that the initial digits of postcodes were not correlated with the geographical boundaries of official Australian Military Districts of 1911-1997, contrary to some beliefs.
Australian postcodes are written after the city, suburb, or town and the state or territory. For example, an address in Blacktown, New South Wales would be formatted as follows:
Recipient Name
100 Citizen Road
BLACKTOWN NSW 2148
Each state's capital city ends with three zeros, while territorial capital cities end with two zeros. For instance, Sydney's postcode is 2000, and Canberra's postcode is 2600. The first one or two numerals of a postcode typically indicate the state or territory. However, in some cases, mail may be routed through a nearby post office across state lines for efficiency.
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They consist of four digits
Australian postcodes consist of four digits. They were introduced in 1967 by the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) to replace earlier postal sorting systems. The four-digit code is used for sorting and delivery of letters and parcels, and it is written at the end of the address of the destination. For example, a correct address format would be:
Recipient Name
100 Citizen Road
BLACKTOWN NSW 2148
The first two digits of the postcode indicate the state or region, and the postcode is written after the name of the city, suburb, or town, and the state or territory. Each state's capital city ends with three zeroes, while territorial capital cities end with two zeroes. For example, Sydney's postcode is 2000, and Melbourne's central postcode is 3000.
Some towns and suburbs have two postcodes – one for street deliveries and another for post office boxes. For instance, a street address in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta will have a different postcode than a post office box in the same suburb. Additionally, some large businesses, government departments, and institutions that receive high volumes of mail may have their own unique postcodes.
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The first two digits indicate the state or region
Australia Post introduced postcodes in 1967 to replace earlier postal sorting systems. Australian postcodes consist of four digits, written after the name of the city, suburb, or town, and the state or territory. For example, a letter addressed to a recipient in Blacktown, New South Wales would be written as follows:
Recipient Name
100 Citizen Road
BLACKTOWN NSW 2148
The first two digits of the postcode indicate the state or region. For instance, New South Wales has postcode combinations between 1000 and 1999, 2000-2599, and 2619-2898. The Australian Capital Territory has postcodes ranging from 0200-0299, 2600-2618, and 2900-2920. The postcode 2600-2609, for example, is assigned to the state capital, Canberra.
The first digit of each postcode was originally derived from the numerical prefixes of Australian radio call signs, which were based on state or territory borders. However, over time, the initial digits of postcodes have deviated from this system. For instance, the 8000 series now refers to special addresses in Victoria.
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Some towns and suburbs have two postcodes
Postcodes in Australia were introduced in 1967 by the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) to replace earlier postal sorting systems. Australian postcodes consist of four digits, and are written after the name of the city, suburb, or town, and the state or territory. For example, a street address in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta would be written as follows:
Recipient Name
100 Citizen Road
BLACKTOWN NSW 2148
Some towns and suburbs in Australia have two postcodes. This is because one postcode is for street deliveries, while the other is for post office boxes. For instance, the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital has the postcode 4029, while the Australian National University has the postcode 0200.
In addition, some postcodes cover large geographical areas, encompassing multiple suburbs, towns, and even states. For example, postcode 2560 covers Ambarvale, St Helens Park, Gilead, Englorie Park, Airds, Rosemeadow, Leumeah, Appin, Ruse, Woodbine, Glen Alpine, Campbelltown, Bradbury, Kentlyn, Blair Athol, and Wedderburn. This is in contrast to the UK, where postcodes are unique to each house.
Furthermore, due to postcode rationalisation, postcodes in country areas can be quite complex. For example, 2570 belongs to twenty-two towns and suburbs around Camden, New South Wales. Similarly, the Geelong Mail Centre in Victoria shares its postcode with twenty places around Geelong. This means that mail for these places is not fully sorted until it reaches Geelong.
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Australia Post has been discontinuing the LVR programme since 2006
Postcodes in Australia are four-digit numerical codes that help in sorting and routing mail within the Australian postal system. They were introduced in 1967 by the Postmaster-General's Department to replace earlier postal sorting systems. Each postcode represents a specific locality or neighbourhood, with the first one or two numerals indicating the state or territory. For example, postcodes in the range 2200–2299 are split between the southern suburbs of Sydney and the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, and Newcastle regions of New South Wales.
Many large businesses, government departments, and other institutions with high-volume mail had their own postcode as a Large Volume Receiver (LVR). For instance, the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital has the postcode 4029, and the Australian National University had the postcode 0200. More postcode ranges were made available for LVRs in the 1990s.
However, Australia Post has been progressively discontinuing the LVR programme since 2006. This discontinuation is part of the inherent challenges with spatial representation in postcodes, as areas referenced by specific postal codes tend to change over time. The introduction of new postcodes or the splitting of existing ones by Australia Post for operational purposes has led to the need for more dynamic solutions.
To improve mechanised sorting, each address now has a sorting number printed as an orange barcode. This system enables more efficient sorting and delivery, reducing the need for manual sorting or the use of mail sorting machines. Additionally, companies can utilise the Rapid Addressing Tool (RATS) to print Customer Addressed Barcodes, further enhancing the accuracy of mail delivery.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian postal codes consist of four digits.
The postal code is written at the end of the address of the destination, after the city or town.
The first two digits of the postal code indicate the state or region.
Yes, Australian postal codes can cover multiple suburbs or country towns.
No, some remote areas with little or no population do not have postal codes.
