
Australia's postcodes are four digits long and are written after the name of the city, suburb, or town, and the state or territory. The first one or two numerals usually indicate the state or territory that the postcode belongs to. Postcodes are often linked with one area, but some cover multiple states or territories, and some cover large populations while others cover much smaller populations. The popularity of a postcode may be measured by the number of people living in the area it covers, and by this metric, the 0872 postcode is the largest in Australia and the world, spanning three states and territories and making up 15% of the country by area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Most popular postcode in Australia | 0872 |
| Number of separate delivery locations | 89 |
| Population | 14,000 |
| States and territories covered | 3 |
| Percentage of Australia covered | 15% |
| Size comparison | Twice the size of Texas |
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What You'll Learn

The largest postcode in Australia
Postcodes in Australia are four-digit codes that were introduced in 1967 to efficiently sort and route mail. They are placed at the end of an address, before the country name. The first one or two numerals indicate the state or territory, and they are often linked with one specific area. However, in some cases, one postcode may cover two or more states.
Some other postcodes with large coverage areas include 4350, which serves around 100,000 people in Toowoomba and the surrounding areas, and 2570, which is shared by twenty-two towns and suburbs around Camden, New South Wales.
On the other hand, some postcodes have much smaller populations, even in urban areas. For example, the postcode 3221 of the Geelong Mail Centre in Victoria includes twenty places around Geelong with very few residents.
Additionally, some towns and suburbs have two postcodes—one for street deliveries and another for post office boxes.
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Postcodes and insurance costs
Postcodes in Australia are four-digit codes that are placed at the end of an address, before the country name. They were introduced in 1967 to make sorting and routing mail more efficient. The first one or two numerals of a postcode usually indicate the state or territory that the postcode belongs to.
Postcodes are also used by insurance companies to determine the cost of car and house insurance. The location of your home can significantly impact the price of your insurance. For instance, Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance costs differ depending on the state. The number of claims in a particular state also influences the cost of insurance, as a higher number of claims leads to higher premiums.
The price of car insurance also varies depending on whether you live in a rural or urban area. Urban areas tend to have higher premiums due to denser populations and busier roads, which increase the risk of accidents and claims. However, living in a rural area does not always guarantee cheaper insurance, as other factors such as longer commute distances and the risk of bushfires can come into play.
Insurance providers will also consider specific factors related to your address, such as the width of your street, proximity to dangerous intersections, local crime rates, road maintenance, and the presence of natural hazards like bushfires. These factors can vary significantly between postcodes, impacting the cost of insurance for residents within those areas.
Additionally, the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (ARPC) has implemented a three-tier system based on postcodes to determine terrorism reinsurance premiums. Tier A includes CBD areas of cities with a population of over 1 million, while Tier B covers urban areas of capital cities and cities with a population above 100,000. Tier C encompasses all other postcodes not allocated to Tiers A or B.
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Postcodes and bus stop numbers
Each suburb or district in Australia is assigned a unique postcode, which is useful for sorting mail and delineating areas with distinct characteristics. Bus stop numbers, on the other hand, are specific to each bus stop within a postcode area. These numbers are typically displayed on a small sign at the bus stop, allowing commuters to identify their pick-up or drop-off location.
Bus stop numbers are typically assigned sequentially along a bus route. The starting point of the route usually bears the first or lowest number. This sequential numbering system helps commuters understand the progression of the route and estimate journey times. It also assists bus operators in fleet management and scheduling, ensuring timely and efficient bus services at each stop.
In some cases, bus stop numbers may include a prefix or suffix, such as a letter or code, indicating the direction of travel or a specific route variant. For instance, "45A" might indicate the 45th stop on route "A". This distinction is particularly useful at stops served by multiple routes or directions.
It's important to remember that bus stop numbers can change over time due to route adjustments, infrastructure developments, or network redesigns. Commuters should periodically check for updates to ensure they have the current bus stop number for their desired location. Real-time passenger information systems and mobile apps can provide dynamic updates on bus arrival times and any changes to bus stop numbering.
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Postcode rationalisation
Postcodes in Australia were introduced in 1967 by the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) to replace earlier postal sorting systems and to work in tandem with a large-scale mechanical mail sorting system. Australian postcodes consist of four digits and are placed at the end of the address before the country name. They are used to sort and route mail more efficiently in the Australian postal system.
Due to postcode rationalisation, Australian postcodes can be quite complex, especially in country areas. For example, the postcode 2570 belongs to twenty-two towns and suburbs around Camden, New South Wales. The south-western Victoria 3221 postcode of the Geelong Mail Centre includes twenty places around Geelong with sparse populations. This means that mail for these places is not fully sorted until it gets to Geelong. Some postcodes cover large populations, while others have much smaller populations, even in urban areas.
Australian postcodes range from 0200 for the Australian National University (now 2601) to 9944 for Cannonvale, Queensland. Some towns and suburbs have two postcodes—one for street deliveries and another for post office boxes. For example, a street address in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta would have a different postcode than a post office box in the same suburb.
The first one or two numerals of an Australian postcode usually indicate the state or territory that the postcode belongs to. Sometimes, Australia Post finds it easier to send mail through a nearby post office across the state border, resulting in some postcodes covering two or more states. For instance, postcode 2620 covers both a locality in NSW (Gundaroo) and a locality in the ACT (Hume).
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Postcodes and military districts
Postcodes were introduced in Australia in 1967 by the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) to replace earlier postal sorting systems. The initial digit of each postcode was copied directly from the previously existing numerical prefixes of Australian radio call signs, which were based on state/territory borders.
It is sometimes incorrectly stated that the initial digits of the postcodes corresponded to the geographical boundaries of the official Australian Military Districts, which existed from 1911 to 1997. In reality, only the boundaries of the initial 2- and 3-postcodes were similar to the former 2nd and 3rd Military Districts, respectively. Over time, the initial digits of postcodes have deviated from the radio system. For example, the 8000 series refers to special addresses in Victoria.
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 written address may look like this:
Recipient Name
100 Citizen Road
BLACKTOWN NSW 2148
When writing an address by hand, if a row of four boxes is pre-printed on the lower right-hand corner of an envelope, the postcode may be written in the boxes instead. When posting to an organisation, business names can be written instead of a recipient name. If an article is intended for a specific identity within an organisation, their identity can be prepended on the line above the business name, with c/- prepended to the business name.
Australian postcodes are sorting information and are often linked with one area. For example, 6160 belongs only to Fremantle, Western Australia. However, due to postcode rationalisation, they can be quite complex, especially in country areas. For instance, 2570 belongs to twenty-two towns and suburbs around Camden, New South Wales. Some postcodes cover large populations, while others have much smaller populations, even in urban areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian postcodes range from 0200 for the Australian National University (now 2601) to 9944 for Cannonvale, Queensland. However, the "most popular" is subjective and depends on various factors.
The popularity of a postcode in Australia can depend on factors such as population size, geographical area, and demand for specific locations within a state or territory.
Australian postcodes consist of four digits and are written after the city, suburb, or town and the state or territory. The first one or two numerals indicate the state or territory.
Yes, some postcodes cover multiple states or territories, such as postcode 0872, which spans Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. Additionally, some towns and suburbs have two postcodes for street deliveries and post office boxes.











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