Census of Population and Housing 1986: Postcode Summary File
Indicative Information and Data Code Groups
Description of the summary tables
Download an .rtf version of documents related to the PCSF
The Postcode Summary File summarises selected characteristics of persons, families and dwellings for each census postcode area as collected from the Census of Population and Housing, 30 June 1986; and allows the aggregation of any combination of census postcode areas.
The File contains, for each census postcode area, a series of counts of census characteristics of persons, families and dwellings grouped to form 46 statistical tables. Counts are on the basis of-place of enumeration, i.e. for each postcode area the counts are of persons who were enumerated in the area on census night.
For census purposes a postcode is assigned to each collection district (CD). Many CDs cross postcode boundaries. In such circumstances, the entire CD was allocated to the postcode in which the greater part of the CD population was estimated to lie. This procedure results in a degree of approximation in census counts relating to postcode areas.
Five postcode are across State borders. In these cases, a portion of the postcode has been allocated to each of the relevant States. Users wishing to work with whole postcodes must aggregate the components of the split postcodes (i.e. 2540, 2620, 3644, 3691 and 5751).
Postcode "0000" has been allocated to the Migratory category.
Note on Random Error
Small non-zero cells on this file have been randomly adjusted in an unbiased manner to avoid the release of identifiable data. This introduced error, in addition to possible respondent and processing errors, means that no significance can be attached to cells of three or less.
Random adjustment of small area data has also the following effects:
- more accurate statistics for census postcode areas will be obtained
directly from the PCSF than from aggregations of the Collection District
Summary File (CCDSF), which contains a larger number of adjusted cells; and
- totals between tables may not always be consistent.
The Postcode Summary File consists of 2432 logical records, one for each Australia Post postcode. Each logical record contains one record of geographic indicative information and 26 records containing counts or totals grouped to form 46 tables.
For each postcode area on the PCSF there are 27 records each 372 characters long.
The 27 records for each postcode area are identified by a character record type field, containing the values 00-26. Record type 00 contains the geographic indicative information-for the postcode area, in a format described below. Record types 01-26 contain the summary data for the postcode area. A later section describes the format of the summary data in more detail.
For some basic information about the way Census 86 was planned, designed, executed and processed, information on the person and dwelling characteristics included in statistical output and some guidance to other census products, see "Census 86 - How Australia Takes a Census".
The type 00 record is called the geographic indicative record. The structure of this record is as follows:
- State
- Postcode
- Record type
- Space filler (consists of 15 spaces)
- Area
- Space filler (consists of 28 spaces)
- File name `CPCSF'
- Date
- Space filler (consists of 300 spaces)
Description of the Summary Tables
The PCSF contains data from 46 summary tables, which present characteristics of persons, families and dwellings for every census postcode area in Australia. The tabulation basis is place of enumeration.
The 27 records for each postcode area are identified by a two character record type field containing the values 00-26. Record type 00 contains geographic indicative information for the postcode area in a format described above. Record types 01-26 contain the summary data for the postcode area.
Full details of the tables and cells are given in "Condensed Format Postcode Summary Tables Description File (download .rtf version)". The data cell values commence at 1, incrementing by 1 for each cell until 1535 is reached.
Cell numbers 486-7, 491-3, 536, 539-40, 57111- 574-5, 767, 783, 1327, 1435-42 and 1469-74 are not applicable and are set to zero. Cell numbers 675,678, 681,684, 693, 696, 699 and 702 are null cells due to change in design of the data base and are also set to zero.
These 1535 data cells are stored in record types 01-26. Each record consists of the 12 character header (containing the postcode, and record type indicator, followed by 60 cells each 6 characters long (12 + 60 x 6 = 372, the record length).
| Record type 01 contains cells 1 - 60 |
| Record type 02 contains cells 61 - 120 |
| Record type 03 contains cells 121 - 180 |
| to |
| Record type 26 contains cells 1501 - 1535 (ie the first 35 cells) |
The remaining 25 cells are filled with the character `9'.
The structure of the data records is as follows:
| Field number | Start position | Length | Name |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | State |
| 3 | 2 | 4 | Postcode |
| 4 | 6 | 2 | Record type |
| 5 | 8 | 5 | Space filler |
| 5+J | 7+6J | 6 | Cell (J) (J = 1 to 60) |
The populations covered by each table are as follows:
| Table | Dimensions | Numbers of cells | Description | Table population |
| C0l | 2 x 2 | 4 | Summary of persons | Total persons |
| C02 | 5 x 2 | 10 | Marital status | Persons aged 15 and over |
| C03 | 32 x 2 | 64 | Age in years | Total persons |
| C04 | 12 x 2 | 24 | Usual residence: 1986 | Total persons |
| C05 | 13 x 2 | 26 | Religion | Total persons |
| C06 | 4 x 2 | 8 | Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders | Total persons |
| C07 | 6 x 2 | 12 | Age of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders | Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders |
| C08 | 20 x 2 | 40 | Birthplace | Total persons |
| C09 | 11 x 3 | 33 | Birthplace of overseas born by period of residence | Overseas born |
| C10 | 7 x 3 | 21 | Proficiency in English by age | Persons aged 5 and over, born in non English speaking countries. |
| C11 | 14 x 2 | 28 | Language other than English spoken at home | All persons aged 5 and over |
| C12 | 11 X 11 | 121 | Birthplace of parents of Australian born persons | Australian born |
| C13 | 4 x 2 | .8 | Couples by type of union | All couples |
| C14 | 3 x 3 | 9 | Labour force status of couples | Couples with spouse present on census night and labour force status stated |
| C15 | 11 X 8 | 88 | Family type by family income by number of dependent children. | Families |
| C16 | 2 x 9 | 18 | Marital status by labour force status | Single parent families |
| C17 | 7 x 11 | 77 | Family type by nature of occupancy by family income | Primary families (excluding those in caravans etc. in caravan parks) |
| C18 | 7 x 8 | 56 | Family type by structure of dwelling | Primary families |
| C19 | 10 x 2 | 20 | Age left school | Persons aged 15 and over |
| *C20 | 18 x 2 | 36 | Type of educational institution being attended | Persons attending an educational institution |
| C21 | 6 x 2 | 12 | Level of qualification | Persons aged 15 and over |
| C22 | 18 x 2 | 36 | Field of qualification | Persons aged 15 and over |
| C23 | 16 x 4 | 64 | Income (annual) | Persons aged 15 and over; families and households |
| C24 | 3 x 8 | 24 | Marital status of labour force by age | Persons aged 15 and over |
| C25 | 8 x 8 | 64 | Labour force status by age | Persons aged 15 and over |
| C26 | 10 x 8 | 80 | occupation by age | Employed labour force |
| C27 | 14 x 8 | 112 | Industry by age | Employed labour force |
| C28 | 5 x 2 | 10 | Household type of the unemployed | Unemployed persons |
| C29 | 5 x 2 | 10 | Industry sector | Employed labour force |
| C30 | 12 x 2 | 24 | Method of travel to work | Employed labour force |
| C31 | 10 x 3 | 30 | Occupation by birthplace | Employed labour force |
| C32 | 14 x 5 | 70 | Industry by hours worked | Employed labour force |
| C33 | 5 x 5 | 25 | Hours worked by employed couples | Employed couples present on census night |
| C34 | 10 x 4 | 40 | Occupation by status of worker | Employed labour |
| C35 | 5 x 2 + 7 | 17 | Hours worked | Employed labour force |
| C36 | 4 x 2 | 8 | Summary of dwellings | Total dwellings and persons |
| C37 | 10 x 2 | 20 | Structure of occupied private dwellings | Households and persons in private dwellings (including caravans etc. in caravan parks |
| C38 | 6 x 2 | 12 | Nature of occupancy | Households and persons in private dwellings (excluding caravan etc. in caravan park) |
| C39 | 6 x 2 | 12 | Number of bedrooms | Households and persons in private dwellings (excluding caravan etc. in caravan parks |
| C40 | 9 x 1 | 9 | Reason unoccupied | Unoccupied private dwellings (excluding caravan etc. in caravan parks) |
| C41 | 4 x 2 | 8 | Persons aged 60 and over by household type | Persons aged 60 and over in private dwellings (including caravans etc. in caravan parks) |
| C42 | 4 x 5 | 20 | Household size by structure of dwelling | Occupied private dwelling (including caravans etc. in caravan parks) |
| C43 | 8 x 5 | 40 | Monthly mortgage payments by structure of dwelling | Occupied private dwellings (excluding caravans etc. in caravan parks |
| C44 | 6 x 5 | 30 | Weekly rent by structure of dwelling | Occupied private dwellings (excluding caravans etc. in caravan parks) |
| C45 | 5 x 5 | 25 | Household type by structure of dwelling | Occupied private dwellings (including caravans etc. in caravan parks) |
| C46 | 6 x 5 | 30 | Number of vehicles | Occupied private Dwellings (including caravans etc. in caravan parks) |
Statistics on type of educational institution being attended
Data in Table C20 on this file concerning type of educational institution being attended are incorrect. Details are in the notes to "Condensed Format Postcode Summary Tables Description File (download .rtf version)"