Destination Zones

Destination Zones are geographic areas built from whole Mesh Blocks. Whole Destination Zones aggregate to form Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2s) and they do not align to Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1s). Destination Zones are co-designed with state and territory transport authorities for the analysis of Place of Work Census of Population and Housing data, commuting patterns and the development of transport policy. 2021 Census of Population and Housing Place of Work data is coded to ASGS Edition 3 (2021) Destination Zones. ASGS Edition 3 is the first time Destinations Zones are included in the ASGS Non ABS Structures. Prior to this, Destination Zones were built separately from the ASGS. For more information and to access 2016 Destination Zones, refer to the Census of Population and Housing Destination Zones publication.

There are 9,329 Destination Zones covering the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. This incorporates 22 non-spatial special purpose codes including a new Outside Australia code. Further information regarding types of special purpose codes can be found in the Destination Zone coding structure section below.

Destination Zones align to Statistical Areas Level 2, which allows data from different sources to be comparable at this level. It also allows Destination Zones to be aggregated to any level of the ASGS that is an aggregation of SA2s. This includes the following ASGS Edition 3 areas:

• Statistical Areas Level 3 (SA3s)
• Statistical Areas Level 4 (SA4s)
• State or Territory (S/T)
• Australia
• Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs)
• Significant Urban Areas (SUAs)
• Tourism Regions (TRs)

The ASGS Edition 3 Destination Zones are based on the 2016 Destination Zones and were initially created by allocating the 2016 Destination Zone boundaries to the 2021 Mesh Block boundaries. New Destination Zones were then created in high growth areas. A draft set of Destination Zones was then supplied to each State and Territory Transport Authority for review and feedback. This feedback was then applied where appropriate.

Destination Zones do not have names.

Destination Zones are identified by unique nine-digit codes consisting of a one-digit state or territory identifier, a four-digit SA2 identifier and a four-digit Destination Zone identifier as shown below. Destination Zone identifiers are unique within each state and territory.

Non-spatial special purposes codes are included as balancing items.

• 9499 is reserved for cases where people are coded to Place of Work No Fixed Address Mesh Blocks.
• 9799 is reserved for cases where people are coded to Migratory, Offshore and Shipping Mesh Blocks (note that this includes Antarctica).
• ZZZZZZZZZ is reserved for cases where people are coded to Outside Australia.

Three special purpose identifiers are reserved for Place of Work not stated, Place of Work not applicable and Overseas visitor. These are Australia wide and as a result, a State or Territory identifier of 0 is used, these are:

• 0&&&&&&&&: Place of Work not stated
• 0@@@@@@@@: Place of Work not applicable
• 0VVVVVVVV: Overseas visitor

Further information can be found in the special purpose codes section of this publication.