https://matthewproctor.com/australian_postcodes
Note: I'm working through SA3/4 updates at present- the ABS released an update recently, but there appears to be missing data. I'll post another update when this is fixed.
Back in September 2015, I published a free public domain database of Australian postcodes, after Australia Post decided to stop providing it for free. Their previously published database, ironically, was also incomplete, perhaps the reason for removing it from the public, but the need was still there. 🤷♂️
With the help of the community, councils, government (local and commonwealth) and even staffers at Australia Post, I've maintained the database publicly ever since. It has around 40,000 downloads each year, and dozens of community contributions - additions, fixes, and adjustments.
It is also amazing and rewarding to see the numerous products and services out there that use the database, and even AI engines consuming the data now.
The database I maintain provides a lot more than just postcodes - it has geographical data, electoral classifications, statistical assignments, regional allocations, health network zoning, delivery regions and charging zones, and much more.
The database isn't perfect, and probably never will be. Australia Post's internal database, according to their staff, is missing data, and even a database maintained by the Australian Bureau of Statistics has quite a number of differences. Over the year, local councils have reached out to advise of new suburbs and subdivision names, that haven't shown up in Australia Posts until months or even years later.
Why? No idea. I guess as essential to Australian businesses and the community isn't worth anything to them in terms of revenue, which seems to be today's only focus.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank everyone who's supported the database over the years - hundreds of individuals and groups. 🙏👍
For those who want to contribute with data or updates, reach out directly or via GitHub.
https://matthewproctor.com/australian_postcodes
https://github.com/matthewproctor/australianpostcodes