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Definition

A code set representing the smallest unit for the release of Census data. Mesh Blocks are the smallest geographic region in the ASGS and form the basis for the larger regions of the ASGS.

Conceptual Domain

Geospatial
Statuses: [NSW Education Statistical Standards Committee: Candidate, Nov. 2, 2023] [FACSIAR Data Governance Committee: Qualified, March 2, 2023]
Geospatial information is data specific to objects or phenomena that are directly or indirectly associated with a location relative to...

Representation

Description

The 11-digit Mesh Block code comprises: State and Territory identifier (1 digit), and a Mesh Block identifier (10 digits).

Data Type NUMBERSTRING
Format N(11)
Maximum character length 11

Comments

There are approximately 358,122 Mesh Blocks covering the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. This includes 113 non spatial Mesh Blocks special purpose codes, for Migratory-Offshore-Shipping and No Usual Address for the States and Territories. These non-spatial Mesh Blocks do not have a geographic boundary defining their extent and include areas that are difficult to define in this way.

Mesh Block coding structure:

The 11-digit Mesh Block code comprises: S/T identifier (1 digit), Mesh Block identifier (10 digits).

For example:

State/territory MB
N NNNNNNNNNNN

Origin

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016. Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 - Main Structure and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas July 2016. ABS cat. no. 1270.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS.

Related content

Relation Count
Data Elements implementing this Value Domain 4