Australian Tagging Guidelines/Australian features
Overview
Where possible, the Australian OpenStreetMap community follows the global guidelines and practices for tagging. However, there are some idiosyncratic tags and features in Australia that may differ from international practice. This page is intended to document some of these differences, and keep a common record of Australian features and their associated tagging.
Australian English-OSM Dictionary
There are many frequently used tags in OpenStreetMap that may not align with
Australian English usage of particular words. Even Australians who are aware of these linguistic differences can be caught off-guard by differences in meaning.
| Australian English term | Tag(s) | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windmill | man_made=windpump |
The steel structures found on rural Australian farms | |
man_made=windmill |
A "European" style windmill. | ||
generator:source=wind |
A wind turbine. | ||
| Footpath | highway=footwayfootway=sidewalk |
The pedestrian walkway adjacent to a road. | |
highway=footway |
A predominately pedestrian walkway: see Australian Tagging Guidelines/Cycling and Foot Paths. | ||
| Water Tower | man_made=reservoir_covered |
Water storage at ground level, often at the top of a hill or peak. | |
man_made=water_tower |
A large tank elevated above ground level. | ||
| Bore | man_made=water_well |
||
| Showground | landuse=recreation_groundrecreation_ground=showgroundsport=* if also used a sport groundtourism=camp_site if also used for camping. |
A public space used for shows, exhibitions, recreation, and other community events | |
| Cellar Door | tourism=attractionshop=wine |
A local tourist attraction where vintners sell wine and offer tastings. | |
tourism=wineryshop=wine |
A winery that offers tours of its facility. | ||
Addresses
Australian street addresses and addressing standards are key priorities of numerous government agencies and departments. In most states and territories, addresses are allocated to properties by local government authorities. All Australian jurisdictions adhere to the joint standards for rural and urban addressing (AS/NZS-4819:2011) and continue to cooperate through the Committee on Surveying and Mapping.
Tagging
Existing addr:*=* tags can be used to correctly format an Australian address. At a minimum addr:housenumber=* and addr:street=* are required and should always be tagged. Details of the suburb, state and postcode can generally be derived through geospatial analysis based on the mapped boundary=administrative relations and aren't required to be added to each individual address.
Where those details are included, Australian addresses do not use addr:city=* and instead use addr:suburb=*. The suburb/locality should be written in title case, rather than the capitalised format used for postage.
| Australian Address Format | |
|---|---|
| 1/486 Waterworks Road ASHGROVE QLD 4060 |
addr:unit=1addr:housenumber=486addr:street=Waterworks Roadaddr:suburb=Ashgrove (optional)addr:state=QLD (optional)addr:postcode=4060 (optional)
|
| Example: Ashgrove Post Office | |

73 Billabong Parade showing a property parcel overlapping admin boundaries leading to an ambiguous suburb address if simply deriving the values. In this case addr:suburb=* should be added to the address feature.There has been a prior discussion in this talk-au thread on if addr:suburb=*, addr:postcode=* should be included with each address feature or if they should not be included, with arguments made both for and against. This needs further discussion within the community and resolution as to if it's encouraged or discouraged.
Regardless of the general case, there are cases where it is either wrong or ambiguous to derive addr:suburb=*, addr:postcode=* from the existing admin boundaries, in these cases addr:suburb=*, addr:postcode=* should always be directly tagged on the address feature. An example is given to the right where the admin boundaries run through a house.
Address State Formats
Where the postal state of an address is different from the actual state/territory the feature in located in, the postal state/territory should be captured using addr:state=*, in an abbreviated format. Where the postal state of an address is the same as the actual state/territory the feature is located in addr:state=* should not be added.
| Australian States Address Format | |
|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | addr:state=ACT
|
| New South Wales | addr:state=NSW
|
| Northern Territory | addr:state=NT
|
| Queensland | addr:state=QLD
|
| South Australia | addr:state=SA
|
| Tasmania | addr:state=TAS
|
| Victoria | addr:state=VIC
|
| Western Australia | addr:state=WA
|
| Norfolk Island | Use addr:state=NSW
|
| Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
Use addr:state=WA
|
| Australian Antarctic Territory | Use addr:state=TAS
|
Places
A long-standing point of discussion is the appropriate usage of place=city, place=town, place=village, and other place=* values for Australian settlements, particularly in rural areas. The population of "important" or "prominent" settlements varies drastically across the country, and population centres of equivalent size may be tagged differently due to their proximity to larger centres. Population centres should be labelled according on popular perception rather than administrative designation or population. For example, despite having a similar population Yarragon
Yarragon is tagged as a village, while Coober Pedy
Coober Pedy is tagged as a town.
Public Services
Emergency Services
The operators of emergency services stations, branches and equipment differs between states and territories.
In addition to the emergency service-specific tags below, the branch=* and name=(operator) (ref) (branch) or name=(branch) (service) Station tags should be used to uniquely identify each location.
amenity=fire_stationoperator=Fire and Rescue NSWoperator:wikidata=Q5451532name=Blacktown Fire Stationbranch=Blacktownref=063
addr:housenumber=222
addr:street=Richmond RoadOther emergency equipment
The operator=* tag can also be applied to other emergency services equipment.
| Community Fire Unit trailer (permanently stationed) | emergency=fire_equipmentref=*operator=see table above |
||
| Fixed Community Fire Unit Cabinet | man_made=street_cabinet
|
||
| Bushfire Neighbourhood Safer Places | emergency=assembly_pointassembly_point:fire=designatedoperator=see table above |
||
| Emergency markers | emergency=assembly_point (or)highway=emergency_access_point |
(or) |
Education
Schools in Australia should be tagged with grades=*, and either version of the isced:level=*: isced:level:1997=*, or isced:level:2011=*, to help distinguish between different levels of schooling.
Childcare
Childcare, long day care and family day care facilities may be tagged with amenity=childcare. If the service provides a preschool/kindergarten program you may add preschool=yes.
School Grades
While each school can offer different levels of schooling, most secondary schools can be tagged as grades=7-12, and most primary schools as grades=0-6. A notable inconsistency is the name given to the first year of primary school (pre-Grade 1), and the name given to pre-school programs, by different states and territories.
| State/Territory | Pre-School Educationamenity=kindergarten |
First Year of Primaryamenity=schoolgrades=0
|
|---|---|---|
| ACT | Preschool | Kindergarten |
| NSW | Preschool | Kindergarten |
| NT | Preschool | Transition |
| QLD | Kindergarten | Prep |
| SA | Preschool | Reception |
| TAS | Kindergarten | Prep |
| VIC | Kindergarten | Foundation (Prep) |
| WA | Kindergarten | Pre-Primary |
ISCED Levels
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool | Years 0-6 | Years 7-10 | Years 11-12 | Cert IV | Tertiary Education (Diploma—Master's) |
PhD, Doctorates |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool | Years 0-6 | Years 7-10 Cert I & II |
Years 11-12 Cert III |
Cert IV | Vocational Education (Diplomas, Adv. Dip., Associate Degree) |
Undergraduate Education (Bachelors, Grad. Cert., Grad. Dip.) |
Postgraduate Education (Master's) |
Doctorates and PhDs |
School operators and private schooling
The operator=* tag should be used to set the state level agency or department which operates the school. Other useful tags include operator:wikidata=* operator:type=*, and fee=yes/no
| State/Territory | Operator Nameoperator=* |
Operator Typeoperator:type=* |
Operator Wikidataoperator:wikidata=* |
Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | ACT Education Directorate |
public |
Q110248228 |
|
| NSW | NSW Department of Education |
public |
Q5260271 |
|
| NT | NT Department of Education |
public |
Q112954013 |
|
| QLD | Queensland Department of Education |
public |
Q5260277 |
|
| SA | SA Department for Education |
public |
Q56378228 |
|
| TAS | Tasmanian Department of Education |
public |
Q5260266 |
|
| VIC | Victorian Department of Education |
public |
Q5260272 |
|
| WA | WA Department of Education |
public |
Q5260265 |
grades=7-12isced:level=2-3operator=NSW Department of Educationoperator:wikidata=Q5260271operator:type=publicschool:gender=mixedgrades=0-6isced:level=1operator=Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schoolsoperator:wikidata=Q100769882operator:type=religiousreligion=christiandenomination=catholicGovernment Offices
In conjunction with office=government, the following tags can be used to more accurately describe different types of government services.
| Name | Recommended Tags | Example | Aust. Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
office=governmentgovernment=social_servicesadmin_level=2name=Centrelinkbranch=branch namebrand:wikidata=Q5062688operator:wikidata=Q4294705operator=Services Australia
|
Centrelink Penrith |
Post Offices
The Australia Post network consists of Australia Post operated post shops and independently run Licensed Post Offices (LPO) and Community Postal Agents (CPA).
If the facility uses Australia Post branding you should apply brand=Australia Post + brand:wikidata=Q1142936 for amenity=post_office and post_office:brand=Australia Post + post_office:brand:wikidata=Q1142936 for post_office=post_partner.
Only the Australia Post operated post shops should apply operator=Australia Post + operator:wikidata=Q1142936, Licensed Post Offices (LPO) and Community Postal Agents (CPA) are not operated by Australia Post.
Dedicated post offices that are a stand-alone building or post shop and not part of another business should use amenity=post_office. Some LPO's and CPA's are dedicated post offices, and some are not.
If the post office is located within or part of another business, eg. a general store or newsagency, you can add post_office=post_partner to the shop.
For tagging of Australia Post post-boxes, see Australian Tagging Guidelines/Utilities and infrastructure#Australia_Post
| Tagging | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post Shop | Dedicated Post Office | amenity=post_office
|
brand=Australia Post + brand:wikidata=Q1142936
|
operator=Australia Post + operator:wikidata=Q1142936
|
post_office:type:AU=post_shop
| |
| Licensed Post Office (LPO) | Dedicated Post Office | amenity=post_office
|
brand=Australia Post + brand:wikidata=Q1142936
|
post_office:type:AU=LPO
| ||
| Post Office services part of another business
(eg. part of a general store / newsagency) |
shop=* + post_office=post_partner
|
post_office:brand=Australia Post + post_office:brand:wikidata=Q1142936
|
||||
| Community Postal Agent (CPA) | Dedicated Post Office | amenity=post_office
|
brand=Australia Post + brand:wikidata=Q1142936
|
post_office:type:au=CPA
| ||
| Post Office services part of another business
(eg. part of a general store / newsagency) |
shop=* + post_office=post_partner
|
post_office:brand=Australia Post + post_office:brand:wikidata=Q1142936
|
||||
Businesses and Brands
Most common large businesses or brands are documented in the Name Suggestion Index to help assist standardisation of tags. While the NSI is embedded into iD, users can refer to the list as a general reference for how common brands are tagged: Australian NSI entries, Global NSI entries.
Arts and culture
Social
Licenced Clubs
A licensed club is a community based club which has meeting rooms and a liquor license, and may also have additional services such as a bistro or poker machines. Archetypal examples of these clubs may include RSLs, bowls clubs and other sporting clubs, and workers clubs.
Community Groups
In addition to the below list, the Name Suggestion Index is used by the iD editor to offer suggestions for common brands and shops.
| Organisation | Suggested Tagging | Example | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Shed | amenity=community_centrecommunity_centre:for=manbrand=Men's Shed |
C.Y. O'Connor Men's Shed |
|
| Country Women's Association | amenity=community_centrecommunity_centre:for=womanbrand=Country Women's Associationwikidata=Q5177469brand=Queensland Country Women's Associationwikidata=Q60740240 |
QCWA Palmwoods |
|
| Scouts | amenity=community_centrecommunity_centre=club_homeclub=scoutcommunity_centre:for=scout |
Renmark Scouts |
|
| Australian Army Cadets | club=cadetcadet=militarymilitary_service=armyoperator=Australian Army Cadetsoperator:wikidata=Q4823829 |
AAC - 147 ACU Goondiwindi |
|
| Australian Air Force Cadets | club=cadetcadet=militarymilitary_service=air_forceoperator=Australian Air Force Cadetsoperator:wikidata=Q4823800 |
AAFC - No 323 (City of Blue Mountains) Squadron |
|
| Australian Navy Cadets | club=cadetcadet=militarymilitary_service=navyoperator=Australian Navy Cadetsoperator:wikidata=Q4824491 |
ANC - Training Ship Gladstone |
Standards and regulations
Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time is observed in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, and Norfolk Island. Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am on the first Sunday in October, and ends at 2am on the first Sunday in April.
Opening hours that vary during daylight savings time can be mapped using using the opening_hours=* date specification syntax.
opening_hours=Apr Su[1]-Oct Su[1] 08:00-14:00 || 06:00-17:00opening_hours=Apr Su[1]-Oct Su[1] 06:00-18:30 open "AEST"; Oct Su[1]-Apr Su[1] 06:00-19:30 open "AEDT"; Dec 25 off; easter -2 days offPhone Numbers
Phone numbers entered into OpenStreetMap should include the international dialing code and applicable
local area code, consistent with the advice on the phone=* page.
phone=+61 2 8888 8888phone=+61 412 345 678Toll Free or Premium Phone Numbers
Phone numbers that cannot be dialed from outside of Australia (such as most toll free, premium, and '1800' numbers) should not be included in the phone=* field, and should instead be mapped using the phone:AU=* tag. When these numbers can be dialed from overseas, the numbers can be mapped as normal
phone=+61 13 45 67Triple Zero
The emergency
triple zero (000) phone number is not specific to an individual location and should not be included in OpenStreetMap.
Phonewords
See key:phone#Phonewords.
Businesses commonly use phonewords in posted phone numbers.
In addition to their normal phone number being listed as phone=*, the phoneword should be added as phone:mnemonic=* e.g. phone:mnemonic=+61 2 OUR PLACE. The word/s should always be in full capitals.
phone:mnemonic=+61 2 OUR PLACEIf you are adding a phoneword that can only be dialled from within Australia e.g. a free call number, it should be tagged as phone:AU:mnemonic=*, e.g. phone:AU:mnemonic=1300 THEIR NAME.
phone:AU:mnemonic=1300 THEIR NAMETotal Fire Bans
Total Fire Bans are used across all states and territories to mitigate the risk of bushfire by restricting and prohibiting certain activities. Parks and amenities may also close on Total Fire Ban days to discourage people from accessing fire-prone areas. These closures can be tagged using the opening_hours=* comment syntax.
opening_hours=Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00 "closed Days of Total Fire Ban"Road Rules
For information about how Australian road rules should be mapped in OpenStreetMap, see the roads sub page.
Symbols
Australian Flags
| Flag | Image | Tag Suggestion | Aust. Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flag of Australia | flag:type=nationalcountry=AUflag:wikidata=Q81676flag:name=Australia (optional) |
||
| Flag of the ACT | flag:type=regionalflag:wikidata=Q252995flag:name=Australian Capital Territory (optional) |
||
| Flag of NSW | flag:type=regionalflag:wikidata=Q1064042flag:name=New South Wales (optional) |
||
| Flag of the NT | flag:type=regionalflag:wikidata=Q599323flag:name=Northern Territory (optional) |
||
| Flag of QLD | flag:type=regionalflag:wikidata=Q383109flag:name=Queensland (optional) |
||
| Flag of SA | flag:type=regionalflag:wikidata=Q912854flag:name=South Australia (optional) |
||
| Flag of TAS | flag:type=regionalflag:wikidata=Q1074327flag:name=Tasmania (optional) |
||
| Flag of VIC | flag:type=regionalflag:wikidata=Q34494flag:name=Victoria (optional) |
||
| Flag of WA | flag:type=regionalflag:wikidata=Q1091279flag:name=Western Australia (optional) |
||
| Flag of Cocos (Keeling) Islands | File:Flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.svg | flag:type=regionalflag:wikidata=Q328895flag:name=Cocos (Keeling) Islands (optional) |
|
| Flag of Christmas Island | flag:type=regionalflag:wikidata=Q336328flag:name=Christmas Island (optional) |
||
| Flag of Norfolk Island | flag:type=regionalflag:wikidata=Q235445flag:name=Norfolk Island (optional) |
||
| Australian Aboriginal Flag | flag:type=indigenousflag:wikidata=Q1285625flag:name=Australian Aboriginal (optional) |
||
| Torres Strait Islander Flag | flag:type=indigenousflag:wikidata=Q462621flag:name=Torres Strait Islander (optional) |
Other Minor Flags
| Flag | Image | Tag Suggestion | Aust. Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flag of Adelaide | flag:type=municipalflag:wikidata=Q24189944flag:name=Adelaide (optional) |
||
| Flag of Brisbane | flag:type=municipalflag:wikidata=Q5456709flag:name=Brisbane (optional) |
||
| Flag of Hobart | flag:type=municipalflag:wikidata=Q1621560flag:name=Hobart (optional) |
||
| Flag of Melbourne | flag:type=municipalflag:wikidata=Q5456860flag:name=Melbourne (optional) |
||
| Flag of Sydney | flag:type=municipalflag:wikidata=Q22271870flag:name=Sydney (optional) |
||
| Flag of Perth | flag:type=municipalflag:wikidata=Q23198404flag:name=Perth (optional) |
| Flag | Image | Tag Suggestion | Aust. Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flag of the Governor-General | flag:type=governmentalflag:wikidata=Q5456870flag:name=Governor-General (optional) |
||
| Flag of the Governor of New South Wales | flag:type=governmentalflag:name=Governor of New South Wales |
||
| Flag of the Governor of Queensland | flag:type=governmentalflag:name=Governor of Queensland |
||
| Flag of the Governor of South Australia | flag:type=governmentalflag:name=Governor of South Australia |
||
| Flag of the Governor of Tasmania | flag:type=governmentalflag:name=Governor of Tasmania |
||
| Flag of the Governor of Victoria | flag:type=governmentalflag:name=Governor of Victoria |
||
| Flag of the Governor of Western Australia | flag:type=governmentalflag:name=Governor of Western Australia |
| Flag | Image | Tag Suggestion | Aust. Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Flag | flag:type=culturalflag:wikidata=Q2920201flag:name=Eureka Flag (optional) |
||
| Boxing Kangaroo | flag:type=culturalflag:wikidata=Q895692flag:name=Boxing Kangaroo (optional) |
||
| Flag of the South Sea Islanders | flag:type=culturalflag:wikidata=Q111718036flag:name=Flag of the South Sea Islanders (optional) |
| Flag | Image | Tag Suggestion | Aust. Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Football League Flag | flag:type=athleticflag:name=Australian Football Leagueflag:colour=white (optional) |
||
| Melbourne Cricket Club Flag | flag:type=athleticflag:name=Melbourne Cricket Clubflag:colour=white (optional) |
||
| Sydney Cricket Club Flag | flag:type=athleticflag:name=Sydney Cricket Clubflag:colour=blue (optional) |
||
| West Australian Cricket Club Flag | flag:type=athleticflag:name=West Australian Cricket Clubflag:colour=white (optional) |
| Flag | Image | Tag Suggestion | Aust. Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Defence Force Ensign | flag:type=militaryflag:wikidata=Q12409908flag:name=Australian Defence Force Ensign (optional) |
||
| RAAF Ensign | flag:type=militaryflag:wikidata=Q2899131flag:name=Royal Australian Air Force Ensign (optional) |
||
| RAN Ensign | flag:type=militaryflag:wikidata=Q782773flag:name=Royal Australian Navy Ensign (optional) |