Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

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Dwelling

In general terms, a dwelling is a structure which is intended to have people live in it, and which is habitable on Census Night. Some examples of dwellings are houses, motels, flats, caravans, prisons, tents, humpies and houseboats.

Private dwellings are enumerated using Household Forms, which obtain family and relationship data. Non-private dwellings (hotels, hospitals etc.) are enumerated on Personal Forms.

All occupied dwellings are counted in the Census. Unoccupied private dwellings are also counted with the exception of unoccupied dwellings in caravan parks, marinas and manufactured home estates, and units in accommodation for the retired or aged (self-care). Unoccupied residences of owners, managers or caretakers of such establishments are counted.

For the 2001 Census unoccupied private dwellings in discrete Indigenous communities will be counted. In prior censuses only occupied private dwellings were counted in these communities.

See also Dwelling Type (DWTD), Dwelling Structure (STRD), Caravans, houseboats, etc., Dwelling Location (DLOD), Household, Type of Non-Private Dwelling (NPDD).

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