Appendix 1 - Correct Addressing Standards
Position of the address on envelopes
Position of address on wrappers
Form of address for counter mail delivery
Form of address for crew or passengers on board ship
Form of address for flats, units or apartments
Recommended thoroughfare abbreviations
Appendix 1 - Correct Addressing Standards
Address components
The address on any postal article must be left justified and contain the components shown in the table.
Address component |
Position and format |
Comments |
Name of addressee For letters addressed to a person at a company or organisation, this is the company or organisation name |
First line of address. |
Mandatory In registered post, you must not use an acronym or a codename, unless the address also contains a 'care of' named addressee in a subsequent line. |
"Attention of:" or other reference details |
Second and, if necessary, third line of the address. |
Optional |
Street address, Box number, or Locked Bag number |
Second last line of the address. It must not contain punctuation or underlining. |
Mandatory |
Locality name or the name of the office of delivery |
The first component of the last line of the address. It must be in UPPER CASE letters and not contain punctuation or underlining. |
Mandatory |
The State or Territory abbreviation |
The second component of the last address line. It must be in UPPER CASE letters and not contain punctuation or underlining. |
Mandatory |
The postcode |
The third and last component of the last address line. It must not contain punctuation or underlining. |
Mandatory. For hand-addressed responses, the postcode should be in the Postcode Squares. |
*Barcode |
At least 2mm above the first line of the address. |
Mandatory for pre-printed Reply Paid responses. |
*The text "Reply Paid" followed by the address number |
Second last line of the address. It must not contain punctuation or underlining. |
Mandatory for Reply Paid responses. Australia Post allocates the address number. |
* Applicable to Reply Paid address structures only.
Last address line
The last address line is most important. Machines read the last line of printed addresses, and the numbers in the Postcode Squares in hand-written addresses. You must not use punctuation of any sort in the last line of the address. This includes full stops and commas.
Underlining
Do not underline any part of the address.
Position of the address on envelopes
The address must be legible and clearly set out parallel to the long side of the envelope. It must be within the Address Zone of the envelope or postcard and be at least 15 mm clear of the bottom and sides of the envelope. The first line of the address should be at least 40 mm from the top of the envelope to leave room for the Postage Zone containing postage stamps, postage meter imprints and postmarks.
Addresses printed on adhesive labels are acceptable if the address falls in the correct position and alignment.
Position of address on wrappers
On wrappers, the address should be clearly set out parallel to the long side of the cover and be positioned to leave room for postage stamps, postage meter imprints and postmarks. Australia Post prefers adhesive labels on wrappers.
Do not use tags or trailing labels on items in the letter post.
The postcode...
In machine-printed addresses, the postcode must appear as the last item in the last line of the address, located only one or two spaces after the State or Territory abbreviation. Ignore Postcode Squares on the envelope.
Use the Postcode Squares pre-printed on the envelope in hand-written addresses. Do not use the Postcode Squares for a letter to an overseas address.
Form of address for counter mail delivery
Where Letters are addressed for collection at a post office (or Poste Restante in the International Post), the address must include the family name and the given name or initial of the addressee. Initials only, figures, given names only, fictitious names or codes must not be used.
Form of address for crew or passengers on board ship
Mail to crew or passengers on board ship should be addressed care of the shipping company agents at the port of call. The postage rate to the country in which the port is situated applies.
Incorrect addressing
It is the sender's responsibility to supply a correct postal address for delivery. Australia Post does not deliver articles:
Senders return address
Include a sender's address on all articles to assist the return of undeliverable items.
The sender's full postal address may appear in the top-left of the envelope face in the Service Zone, or on the back of the article.
All businesses, clubs or other organisations should print their return address on all envelopes, wrappers or labels.
Form of address for flats, units or apartments
Use only the forms of address in the examples below for flats, units or apartments.
For flat 2 at 14 Smith Street |
Flat 2 14 Smith St |
2/14 Smith St | |
F 2 14 Smith St | |
For unit 2 at 14 Smith Street |
Unit 2 14 Smith St |
2/14 Smith St | |
U 2 14 Smith St | |
For apartment 2 at 14 Smith Street |
2/14 Smith St |
APT 2 14 Smith St |
Use of the solidus (/)
Australia Post accepts a solidus (/) to separate a flat, unit or apartment number from the thoroughfare number. However, do not use a solidus to separate other address elements, such as a shop, suite, or factory number or a building level number.
Recommended thoroughfare abbreviations
Thoroughfare |
Abbreviation |
Thoroughfare |
Abbreviation |
Alley |
ALLY |
Grove |
GR |
Arcade |
ARC |
Highway |
HWY |
Avenue |
AVE |
Lane |
LANE |
Boulevard |
BVD |
Parade |
PDE |
Close |
CL |
Place |
PL |
Court |
CT |
Road |
RD |
Crescent |
CRES |
Square |
SQ |
Drive |
DR |
Street |
ST |
Esplanade |
ESP |
Terrace |
TCE |
