Australia
Australian address format
How to write an address so it arrives: the order of the lines, the state abbreviations, where the postcode goes and how to handle units, PO Boxes and mail from overseas.
Example
MS JANE CITIZEN5/12 EXAMPLE STREETBLACKTOWN NSW 2148- Line 1 · recipient
- Line 2 · unit / street number, street name and type
- Line 3 · suburb, state, postcode
The rules in short
These are the usual conventions on Australian mail. Check the current guidelines on the Australia Post website if you send a lot of mail.
Suburb, state and postcode on one line
The last line has the suburb, the state or territory abbreviation and the four-digit postcode, separated by spaces: BLACKTOWN NSW 2148.
Units and apartments
Put the unit before the street number, with a slash: 5/12 EXAMPLE STREET. UNIT 5, 12 EXAMPLE STREET is also understood.
PO Box
One line for the box, one for the post office's suburb, state and postcode: PO BOX 123 then BLACKTOWN NSW 2148.
From overseas
Add AUSTRALIA as the last line, on its own, after the suburb, state and postcode.
State and territory abbreviations
The first digit of a postcode usually points to the state, but some postcodes near a border belong to the neighbouring state or are shared.
| Abbreviation | State or territory | Postcode range |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | New South Wales→ | 2000–2599, 2619–2899, 2921–2999 |
| VIC | Victoria→ | 3000–3996 |
| QLD | Queensland→ | 4000–4999 |
| WA | Western Australia→ | 6000–6797 |
| SA | South Australia→ | 5000–5799 |
| TAS | Tasmania→ | 7000–7799 |
| ACT | Australian Capital Territory→ | 2600–2618, 2900–2920 |
| NT | Northern Territory→ | 0800–0899 |
Postcodes reserved for PO Boxes and large mail users are listed on the Australian postcodes page.
Common street type abbreviations
Street types are often abbreviated in addresses; the full word is always fine.
- St
- Street
- Rd
- Road
- Ave
- Avenue
- Dr
- Drive
- Ct
- Court
- Pl
- Place
- Cres
- Crescent
- Hwy
- Highway
- Pde
- Parade
- Blvd
- Boulevard
- Tce
- Terrace
- Cl
- Close
- Ln
- Lane
Frequently asked questions about Australian addresses
In what order do the parts of an Australian address go?+
Recipient, then the street address (unit and street number, street name and type), and last a line with the suburb, the state or territory and the postcode, in that order. The postcode comes after the state.
Do I put commas in an Australian address?+
Not needed. The last line is usually written with single spaces and no punctuation, like BLACKTOWN NSW 2148. Many people also write the suburb and state in capitals, which is the convention on mail.
How do I write a unit or apartment number?+
Put the unit first, then the street number, joined by a slash: 5/12 Example Street. Writing Unit 5, 12 Example Street is also common and understood.
How do I address a PO Box?+
Write PO BOX and the number on one line, then the suburb, state and postcode of the post office on the next line. PO Box postcodes come from separate ranges, listed on the Australian postcodes page.
What do I add when I send mail to Australia from another country?+
Add AUSTRALIA on a separate last line, after the line with the suburb, state and postcode.
Why can one suburb have more than one postcode?+
Postcodes are delivery areas set by Australia Post, not suburb boundaries. A large suburb can be split across several postcodes, and a postcode often covers several small suburbs. Each suburb page here lists every postcode it belongs to and which other suburbs share it.
How do I find the postcode of a suburb?+
Search for the suburb on this site. Keep in mind that a suburb can have more than one postcode; the suburb page lists each of them and which streets or areas they cover on the map.
Not sure of your postcode? Try What's my postcode?