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Appendix: Changes resulting from the July 2016 update to the Australian Statistical Geographic Standard (ASGS)

In July 2016, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the second edition of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). This updated the first edition (introduced in 2011) to account for areas of growth and change in Australia's population and infrastructure. It also incorporated the Territory of Norfolk Island for the first time.

A feature of the ASGS is the stability of regions across editions, which enables better comparison of data over time. Accordingly, the majority of Statistical Areas level 2 (SA2s) from the 2011 ASGS remained effectively unchanged. Changes that have resulted from the 2016 update include splits, amalgamations, label/code changes, and minor changes to match boundaries to updated mapping. The most prevalent of these changes are splits to SA2s, to incorporate areas of growth within the existing boundaries.

In the 2016 ASGS, there are 2,310 SA2 regions covering the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. This figure represents an increase from 2,214 in 2011 and includes 18 non-spatial SA2 special purpose codes, comprising Migratory–Offshore–Shipping and No Usual Address codes for each State and Territory. NB: Migratory–Offshore–Shipping SA2s are out of scope for 2016 CABEE, resulting in a total CABEE 2016 SA2 population of 2,301.

The number of SA2s from 2011 that have been affected by 2016 changes are detailed below (by State).

State
2011 SA2s affected by
splits
2011 SA2s affected by amalgamations
New South Wales
27
0
Victoria
18
0
Queensland
2
0
South Australia
2
0
Western Australia
3
6
Tasmania
1
0
Northern Territory
0
0
Australian Capital Territory
9
0
Australia
62
6

New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory represent the States and Territory most affected by SA2 changes.

Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) Boundary changes
Sydney - 2011 and 2016

Sydney Statistical Area Level 2 Boundary changes

Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) Boundary changes
Melbourne - 2011 and 2016

Melbourne Statistical Area Level 2 Boundary changes

Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) Boundary changes
Canberra - 2011 and 2016

Canberra Statistical Area Level 2 Boundary changes

For more information on ASGS changes please refer to APPENDIX 2: ASGS CODING AND LABELLING CHANGES within Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 - Main Structure and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas, July 2016  (cat. no. 1270.0.55.001). To view the 2016 SA2 boundaries and compare with those from 2011 on an interactive map see the ABS maps tool.