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Definition

The Australian Statistical Geography Standard code set representing a geographical area built up from Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2s), 2011 edition.

Representation

Description

Please see the ABS ASGS webpage for further information regarding the coding structure and permissible values for this code set.

Data Type String
Format N(9)
Maximum character length 9

Comments

Statistical Areas Level 2 are medium-sized sub-State regions in the Main Structure of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). They generally contain between 3,000 and 25,000 people, and are intended to represent social and economic communities (such as rural towns, regional cities, transport/commercial hubs in major cities, and major cities).

There are SA2 regions covering the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. These include non-spatial SA2 special purpose codes, comprising Migratory–Offshore–Shipping and No Usual Address codes for each State and Territory. The Other Territories of Jervis Bay, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Norfolk Island are each represented by a SA2 in the 2011 ASGS.

Zero SA2

Zero SA2s have a nil or nominal population. They are created to represent large unpopulated areas that are not easily combined with surrounding populated SA2s.

They may include:

  • major infrastructure (ports, airports)
  • significant bodies of water
  • major commercial and industrial zones
  • national parks
  • defence land
  • very large urban parks
  • very large sporting precincts.

 

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011. Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 - Main Structure and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas, July 2011 (Cat. no.  1270.0.55.001), Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra. Last viewed on 15/10/2019, <https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1270.0.55.001>

Related content

Relation Count
Data Elements implementing this Value Domain 1