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1996 Australian Census of Population and Housing

The Census of Housing and Population is the largest collection undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It measures the key characteristics of people and dwellings in Australia on census night. Data is made available for areas as small as collection districts of approximately 100 houses, to Australia as a whole.

For information about earlier Census's from 1828 onwards see Early Australian Census of Housing and Population. Monash has a complete collection of published Australian Census data.

1996 Census of Housing and Population

What is available
Census 96 information is available in a number of different formats to meet different needs.

Summary publications
If you are looking for information from the Census at Statistical Local Area level or from larger geographic areas and you do not need the data in electronic format then there are a number of useful printed publications. Available via Australian Bureau of Statistics and in the Matheson Library Reference Collection.

  • ABS 2001.0-2016.8
    16 tables of "Selected Social and Housing characteristics" for Australia and the States
    SLA's are ranked for a number of criteria.
  • ABS 2017.0-2017.8
    26 tables of "Selected Family and Labor Force characteristics" for Statistical Local Areas for each State and Territory and one for Australia. Data for the 1991 and 1996 Census's are included as well as data for Statistical Divisions and Subdivisions. The Australian publication contains data at Statistical Subdivision Level. SLA's are ranked for a number of criteria.
  • ABS 2015.0-2015.8
    22 tables of selected "Social and Housing characteristics" for Statistical Local Areas for each State/Territory and statistical subdivisions for Australia as a whole from both the 1991 and 1996 Census's
    SLA's are ranked for a number of criteria.
  • ABS 2035.0
     Population Growth and Distribution - Australia.
  • ABS 28401.8
    Social Atlas Series one for each state with maps depicting various census characteristics.
  • ABS 2910-0
    Directory of Census Statistics     for details of other useful printed publications.
  • ABS 2032.0
    Australia in Profile     : A Regional Analysis Includes Social Indicators for SLA's.
  • ABS 3101.0
    Available in the ABS Collection Matheson Library, 1st Floor, Main Wing.

CD-ROMS

CDATA96 with Map Info and CLIB96
 If the Tables you require are not available in print use Census Data on CD-ROM.

Which CD-ROM to use?

Use CDATA96 when you need to:

  • create maps
  • perform calculations on the data
  • download to disc in spreadsheet compatible format
  • when you need a few characteristics for a large number of geographic areas

Use CLIB96 when:

  • you want a printed table using the easiest, quickest method for one or a few geographic areas
  • when you DO NOT need Maps
  • when you want a lot of information about a small number of geographic areas

Note: Information from CLIB96 cannot be downloaded to disk. Book at the Information desk

Where to begin

  • look at printed copies of tables next to the Census CD-ROM terminal.
  • note the name or table number of any tables you would like to have.

Note that some of these tables are available for all Census Geographic areas. Others are only available for Statistical Local Area Level and above. See the chart at the back of the orange 'Monash Guide to Using CDATA96' for details.

CDATA96 final release 2.1 is on 2 CD-ROMS. All Community Profiles are available.

User Guides, general

  • Copies of Community Profiles
  • Statistical Geography
    • vol 1 - ABS 1216.0
    • vol.2 - ABS 2905.0
    • vol.3 - ABS 2909.0
  • Census of Housing and Population. Scope and coverage and release dates
  • Nature and content of Census ABS 2008.0
  • Census Dictionary ABS 2901.0
  • ABS Views on Census Classifications ABS 2012.0
  • How Australia takes a Census ABS 2903.0
  • Directory of Census Statistics ABS 2910.0

User Guides for CD-ROMs

CLIB

  • CLIB96 - Census in your Library
  • CLIB96 - Printed version of Online help
  • Using CLIB96 Quick help guide

CDATA

  • CDATA96 - User Manual and Supplement
  • CDATA96 - Monash University Matheson Library Guide
  • Bound instructions on specific aspects of using CDATA96 eg. creating well-presented maps.
  • Help Sheet - Opening a file within a secondary software application.

Related census products:

Australia

Australian Demographic Statistics
Quarterly Dec 1996-
Estimated population for states, territories and Australia based on 1996 Census.
Community Profiles
This series provides a number of detailed tables for specific immigrant communities in Australia, mostly at Australia and State geographic level.
Matheson Reference Collection 305.8nnn
Statistical Focus
Birthplace and related data from the 1996 Census - for each state.
Matheson Reference Collection 304.60994 M648B.v

Victoria

Community Profiler
displays community profiles in bar chart form for all areas and towns in Victoria based on 1996 ABS Census Data
library holdings
Suburbs in Time
Suburbs in Time datasheets and profiles. A detailed comparison over the 1981 to 2006 period of Melbourne suburbs derived from Census.
Melbourne in fact 1996
Statistics for Melbourne Local Government Areas.
library holdings
Regional Victoria in fact 1996
library holdings

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