The format of telephone numbers in Australia has changed over time to allow for the expansion of the subscriber base as technology has improved.
The format of telephone numbers in Australia has changed over time to allow for the expansion of the subscriber base as technology has improved.
The introduction of subscriber trunk dialling was slow, partly because of the distances of exchanges in some areas and partly due to the use of manual exchanges well into the 1980s. Initially, dialing codes covered a very small area, sometimes only one exchange, but gradually exchanges conglomerated to become large area codes. The length of codes varied; as early as 1971, some localities had area codes as long as seven digits, while the state capitals had two-digit area codes. By 1989, the system had been standardised to three-digit codes across the board, with two digit codes in the major cities. Only Kangaroo Island retained its four-digit code. [1]
The digit following the leading zero was chosen to represent a rough geographic area, with the following numbers:
By 1994, there were six area codes of two digits covering Sydney (02), Melbourne (03), Canberra (06), Brisbane (07), Adelaide (08) and Perth (09), 48 area codes of three digits, from (002) covering Hobart to (099) covering mid-west Western Australia, and one area code of four digits, Kangaroo Island (0848), which was not incorporated into a larger area code before 1994.
To dial these numbers from overseas, one omitted the leading zero. In the case of numbers in the 00 range, only the first zero was omitted: Hobart was +61 02 xx xxxx – this was a potential cause of confusion with the Sydney area code (+61 2 xxx xxxx or +61 2 xx xxxx). The 007 range was used for satellite phones and "0G" mobile phones. [2] Even as late as 2005 there was confusion: the prefixes +61 78 and +61 79 were listed as a "mobile phone number" on some call rates, [3] even though the prefix was +61 07x and had not been used for over a decade.
In late March 1990, Canberra's area code changed from (062) to (06) by integrating the 2 into the subscriber number, thus allowing 200 000 more numbers to be registered.
| Example telephone number in Sydney [4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s–1960s | Alphabetical exchange codes | MW 2114 | |
| Mid 1960s | Numeric exchange codes | 68 2114 | |
| 1960s–1971 | All-digit dialling and conversion to seven digits | 660 2114 | |
| 1971–1996 | STD codes introduced | 02-660 2114 | |
| 1996–present | Area code restructuring | (02) 9660 2114 | |
In Australia, as in other countries, due to the increase in subscriber uptake of services such as extra telephone lines in homes, mobile phones and other services, the previous numbering plan was being stretched to its limit. It was decided to reduce the number of area codes and lengthen all subscriber numbers by one or two digits. This occurred between 1994 and 1998, and was done progressively to ensure as little inconvenience and confusion as possible. The gradual change was also to avoid number clashes, a situation where two subscribers in two completely different locations have technically the same telephone number if dialed in their entirety. The first numbers to be converted to eight digits were numbers in the 99x xxxx and 99 xxxx ranges in the suburb of Mona Vale in Sydney, which all became 999x xxxx or 9999 xxxx on 25 July 1994. The final codes changed to eight digits were the Queensland (070), (071), (076), (077) and (079) codes, which all changed to (07) 4yxx xxxx on 10 November 1997.
In almost all cases, the former area code was incorporated into the new subscriber number: Canberra numbers went from (06) 2xx xxxx to (02) 62xx xxxx, numbers in the Northern Territory went from (089) xx xxxx to (08) 89xx xxxx, Regional Victoria went from 05x xxx xxx to 03 5xxx xxxx and so on. The four major exceptions were the two cities of Sydney and Melbourne, which added a 9 to the beginning of subscriber numbers; Tasmania, which became part of the (03) 6xxx xxxx range; and Queensland, which spread its area codes across a wide number range so that (07) 3... covers Brisbane, (07) 5... covers the surrounds including Esk and the Gold and Sunshine coasts, and (07) 4... covers the rest of the state. In Melbourne and Sydney, new non-geographic 90xx xxxx and 91xx xxxx ranges became available. Canberra also got a new 61xx xxxx range. Until November 1998, the only mobile numbers available were in the 040x and 041x ranges, to allow time for the existing 04x area codes (then New South Welsh regional codes) to be converted to (02) 4xxx xxxx numbers.
During the period of changeover, Australians were often told they were required to dial the entire telephone number they were calling, including the area code, even though the number may have been within the same area code. For example, a caller in Sydney with the number (02) 9xxx xxxx would need to dial (02) 49xx xxxx to call a number in Newcastle, despite the area code being the same. This was in order to avoid possible number clashes. Although this practice officially ceased on 1 March 1999, many still believe they are required to dial an area code outside their own telephone book area, but this is not the case.
Area Code boundaries do not always follow state boundaries, Along the Murray River New South Wales / Victoria state boundary 02 stretches south into Victoria for up to 50km upstream of Rutherglen while 03 a similar distance north into New South Wales downstream of Rutherglen. Broken Hill has an Area Code of 08 despite being geographically in New South Wales.
Note: the number ranges given below do not include all current numbers in a given area. See the Australian telephone numbering plan for more information.
| Former number | Current number | Date of change | Location of area code |
|---|---|---|---|
| (002) xx xxxx | (03) 62xx xxxx | 1996-08-19 | Hobart & Southern Tasmania |
| (003) xx xxxx | (03) 63xx xxxx | 1996-08-19 | Launceston & North East Tasmania |
| (004) xx xxxx | (03) 64xx xxxx | 1996-08-19 | Burnie, Devonport, North West & West Coast of Tasmania |
| 0055 xxxxx | 1900 9xx xxx 1902 2xx xxx | Premium numbers | |
| 007 1xx xxx | 0147 1xx xxx | March 1999 | Satellite telephone numbers |
| 008 xxx xxx | 1800 xxx xxx | Toll-free numbers | |
| (02) 99x xxxx | (02) 999x xxxx | 1994-07-25 | Mona Vale (Sydney) |
| (02) 99 xxxx | (02) 9999 xxxx | 1994-07-25 | Mona Vale (Sydney) |
| (02) 9xx xxxx | (02) 99xx xxxx | 1995-07-24 | Sydney |
| (02) xxx xxxx | (02) 9xxx xxxx | 1996-07-29 | Sydney |
| (02) xx xxxx | (02) 91xx xxxx | 1996-07-29 | Sydney |
| (03) xxx xxxx | (03) 9xxx xxxx | 1995-05-08 | Melbourne |
| (042) xx xxxx | (02) 42xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Wollongong |
| (043) xx xxxx | (02) 43xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Central Coast, Gosford |
| (044) xx xxxx | (02) 44xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Batemans Bay, Moruya, Narooma, Nowra, Ulladulla |
| (045) xx xxxx | (02) 45xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Richmond, Windsor |
| (046) xx xxxx | (02) 46xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Camden, Campbelltown, Picton |
| (047) xx xxxx | (02) 47xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Katoomba, Penrith, Springwood |
| (048) xx xxxx | (02) 48xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Bowral, Braidwood, Crookwell, Goulburn, Mittagong, Moss Vale |
| (049) xx xxxx | (02) 49xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Cessnock, Maitland, Newcastle |
| (050) xx xxxx | (03) 50xx xxxx | 1996-11-11 | Balranald, Hopetoun, Mildura, Ouyen, Swan Hill |
| (051) xx xxxx | (03) 51xx xxxx | 1996-11-11 | Bairnsdale, Moe, Morwell, Sale, Traralgon |
| (052) xx xxxx | (03) 52xx xxxx | 1996-11-11 | Colac, Geelong |
| (053) xx xxxx | (03) 53xx xxxx | 1996-11-11 | Ararat, Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Horsham, Nhill, Stawell |
| (054) xx xxxx | (03) 54xx xxxx | 1996-11-11 | Bendigo, Castlemaine, Charlton, Echuca, Kerang, Kyneton, Maryborough |
| (055) xx xxxx | (03) 55xx xxxx | 1996-11-11 | Camperdown, Casterton, Edenhope, Hamilton, Portland, Warrnambool |
| (056) xx xxxx | (03) 56xx xxxx | 1996-11-11 | Foster, Korumburra, Leongatha, Warragul, Wonthaggi |
| (057) xx xxxx | (03) 57xx xxxx | 1996-11-11 | Alexandra, Benalla, Myrtleford, Seymour, Wangaratta |
| (058) xx xxxx | (03) 58xx xxxx | 1996-11-11 | Cobram, Deniliquin, Numurkah, Shepparton |
| (059) xx xxxx | (03) 59xx xxxx | 1996-11-11 | Cranbourne, Healesville, Mornington |
| (06) 2xx xxxx [lower-alpha 1] | (02) 62xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Canberra, Queanbeyan, Yass |
| (060) xx xxxx | (02) 60xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Albury, Corowa, Corryong, Holbrook, Wodonga |
| (063) xx xxxx | (02) 63xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Bathurst, Cowra, Lithgow, Mudgee, Orange, Rylstone, Young |
| (064) xx xxxx | (02) 64xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Bega, Berridale, Bombala, Cooma, Eden, Jindabyne, Merimbula, Snowy Mountains |
| (065) xx xxxx | (02) 65xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Forster, Gloucester, Kempsey, Lord Howe Island, Muswellbrook, Nambucca, Port Macquarie, Scone, Singleton, Taree, Wauchope |
| (066) xx xxxx | (02) 66xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Ballina, Casino, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Lismore, Murwillumbah |
| (067) xx xxxx | (02) 67xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Armidale, Glen Innes, Gunnedah, Inverell, Moree, Narrabri, Tamworth |
| (068) xx xxxx | (02) 68xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Cobar, Condobolin, Dubbo, Forbes, Parkes, Wellington |
| (069) xx xxxx | (02) 69xx xxxx | 1997-08-18 | Cootamundra, Griffith, Hay, Leeton, Narrandera, Temora, Tumut, Wagga Wagga, West Wyalong |
| (07) xxx xxxx [lower-alpha 2] | (07) 3xxx xxxx | 1995-07-17 | Brisbane |
| (070) xx xxxx | (07) 40xx xxxx | 1997-11-10 | Cairns |
| (071) xx xxxx | (07) 41xx xxxx | 1997-11-10 | Bundaberg, Gayndah, Hervey Bay, Kingaroy, Maryborough, Murgon |
| (074) xx xxxx | (07) 54xx xxxx | 1996-10-07 | Boonah, Caboolture, Esk, Gatton, Gympie, Sunshine Coast |
| (075) xx xxxx | (07) 55xx xxxx | 1995-06-05 | Beaudesert, Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Coolangatta |
| (076) xx xxxx | (07) 46xx xxxx | 1997-11-10 | Toowoomba, Charleville, Dalby, Dirranbandi, Goondiwindi, Inglewood, Longreach, Miles, Roma, St George, Stanthorpe, Warwick |
| (077) xx xxxx | (07) 47xx xxxx | 1997-11-10 | Townsville, Cloncurry, Hughenden, Mount Isa |
| (079) xx xxxx | (07) 49xx xxxx | 1997-11-10 | Rockhampton, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay |
| (08) xxx xxxx [lower-alpha 3] | (08) 8xxx xxxx | 1996-08-19 | Adelaide |
| (08) xx xxxx | (08) 84xx xxxx | 1996-08-19 | Adelaide |
| (080) xx xxxx | (08) 80xx xxxx | 1997-02-03 | Broken Hill |
| (0848) xxxxx | (08) 855x xxxx (See below) | 1997-02-03 | Kangaroo Island |
| (085) xx xxxx | (08) 85xx xxxx | 1997-02-03 | Barossa Valley, Riverland |
| (086) xx xxxx | (08) 86xx xxxx | 1997-02-03 | Ceduna, Eyre Peninsula, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Whyalla |
| (087) xx xxxx | (08) 87xx xxxx | 1997-02-03 | Mount Gambier, Naracoorte |
| (088) xx xxxx | (08) 88xx xxxx | 1995-02-13 | Clare, Kadina, Yorke Peninsula |
| (089) xx xxxx | (08) 89xx xxxx | 1996-05-06 | Northern Territory |
| (09) xxx xxxx [lower-alpha 4] | (08) 9xxx xxxx | 1997-05-05 | Perth |
| (090) xx xxxx | (08) 90xx xxxx | 1997-05-05 | Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Merredin |
| (091) xx xxxx | (08) 91xx xxxx | 1997-05-05 | Broome, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Derby, Port Hedland |
| (095) xx xxxx | (08) 95xx xxxx | 1997-05-05 | Bullsbrook, Mandurah, Pinjarra, Rockingham |
| (096) xx xxxx | (08) 96xx xxxx | 1997-05-05 | Moora, Northam, York |
| (097) xx xxxx | (08) 97xx xxxx | 1997-05-05 | Bridgetown, Bunbury, Busselton |
| (098) xx xxxx | (08) 98xx xxxx | 1997-05-05 | Albany, Katanning, Narrogin, Wagin |
| (099) xx xxxx | (08) 99xx xxxx | 1997-05-05 | Carnarvon, Geraldton, Meekatharra, Mullewa |
The South Eastern New South Wales corner had previously been split into two area code regions each with four digits, (0648) and (0649). These were centred on Cooma and the Snowy Mountains region and Bega and the Far South Coast region, respectively. The regions only had 5 digit (xxxxx) local numbers until they were upgraded and the numbers were changed to 6 digits. This resulted in the numbers becoming (064) 5xxxxx for Cooma/Snowy Mountains region and (064) 9xxxxx for Bega/Far South Coast region. When phone numbers were changed to 8 digits these two regions became (02) 64xxxxxx numbers.
Kangaroo Island was the only area in Australia that wasn't integrated into a larger area code before the change to eight-digit phone numbering, and had the only four-digit area code, (0848). The Kangaroo Island area was incorporated into the (08) 855x xxxx number range with a significant change to subscriber numbers (for example (0848) 21000 became (08) 8553 4000).
| Old number | Town | New number |
|---|---|---|
| (0848) 21xxx | Kingscote | (08) 8553 4xxx |
| (0848) 22xxx | Kingscote | (08) 8553 2xxx |
| (0848) 23xxx | Kingscote | (08) 8553 3xxx |
| (0848) 24xxx | Kingscote | (08) 8553 0xxx |
| (0848) 28xxx | Macgillivray | (08) 8553 8xxx |
| (0848) 29xxx | Cygnet River | (08) 8553 9xxx |
| (0848) 31xxx | Penneshaw | (08) 8553 1xxx |
| (0848) 33xxx | American River | (08) 8553 7xxx |
| (0848) 35xxx | Wisanger | (08) 8553 5xxx |
| (0848) 36xxx | Stokes Bay | (08) 8559 2xxx |
| (0848) 37xxx | Karatta | (08) 8559 7xxx |
| (0848) 93xxx | Gosse | (08) 8559 3xxx |
| (0848) 94xxx | Harriet | (08) 8559 4xxx |
| (0848) 96xxx | Parndana | (08) 8559 6xxx |
| (0848) 97xxx | Parndana | (08) 8559 5xxx |
In order to prevent incorrect connections during the changeover period, a number which would otherwise have the first digits of its old form the same as the first digits of its new form had to be changed. For example, (043) 43 2123 may be confused with (02) 4321 2345 (which would be used for (043) 21 2345) during the change. To prevent this, before the change to eight digits, the local number was changed, so that, in the example, (043) 43 2123 would become (043) 44 2123, and then (02) 4344 2123. A list of all numbers changed in this way is shown in the table below.
| Old number | New number | Date of change | Affected towns |
|---|---|---|---|
| (062) xx xxxx | (06) 2xx xxxx | 1990–03 | Canberra, Queanbeyan, Yass |
| +672 2 xxxx | (091) 62 xxxx | 1994-10-02 | Christmas Island |
| +672 4 xxxx | (091) 64 xxxx | 1994-10-02 | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
| (002) 62 xxxx | (002) 60 xxxx | 1994-11-07 | Richmond, Campania |
| (003) 63 xxxx | (003) 67 xxxx | 1995-01-09 | Chudleigh, Caveside |
| (02) 9xx xxxx | (02) 99xx xxxx | 1995-07-24 | |
| (043) 43 xxxx | (043) 44 xxxx | 1996-02-19 | Woy Woy |
| (046) 46 xxxx | (046) 48 xxxx | 1996-02-19 | Narellan |
| (048) 48 xxxx | (048) 44 xxxx | 1996-02-19 | Roslyn, Bannister, Bungonia, Windellama, Quialigo |
| (049) 49 xxxx | (049) 44 xxxx | 1996-02-19 | Dudley |
| (051) 51 xxxx | (051) 54 xxxx | 1995-03-13 | Orbost |
| (052) 52 xxxx | (052) 58 xxxx | 1995-03-20 | Queenscliff |
| (053) 53 xxxx | (053) 54 xxxx | 1995-02-20 | Willaura, Moyston, Elmhurst, Crowlands |
| (054) 54 xxxx | (054) 57 xxxx | 1995-03-13 | Myall, Murrabit, Mystic Park, Benjeroop, Appin South, Lake Meran |
| (056) 56 xxxx | (056) 58 xxxx | 1995-04-10 | Korumburra |
| (057) 57 xxxx | (057) 54 xxxx | 1995-02-06 | Mount Beauty, Coral Bank |
| (058) 58 xxxx | (058) 52 xxxx | 1995-03-06 | Tongala |
| (063) 63 xxxx | (063) 60 xxxx | 1996-02-19 | Orange |
| (065) 65 xxxx | (065) 67 xxxx | 1996-02-19 | Smithtown, Hat Head |
| (066) 66 xxxx | (066) 61 xxxx | 1996-02-19 | Tabulam South, Rappville, Myrtle Creek, Whiporie |
| (067) 67 xxxx | (067) 60 xxxx | 1996-02-19 | Tamworth, Bithramere, Kootingal, Winton, Westdale, Hallsville, Nemingha |
| (068) 68 xxxx | (068) 64 xxxx | 1996-02-19 | Yarrabandai |
| (069) 69 xxxx | (069) 60 xxxx | 1996-02-19 | Griffith |
| (085) 85 xxxx | (085) 95 xxxx | 1995-02-27 | Renmark, Berri, Paringa, Taldra, Cooltong, Murtho, Loxton |
| (086) 86 xxxx | (086) 76 xxxx | 1995-02-20 | Cummins, Edillilie, Yeelanna, Karkoo, Brooker, Cockaleechie |
| (089) 89 xxxx | (089) 99 xxxx | 1996-04-24 | Darwin, Northern Territory |
| (097) 97 2xxx | (097) 97 0xxx | 1996-02-19 | Australind |
A telephone numbering plan is a type of numbering scheme used in telecommunication to assign telephone numbers to subscriber telephones or other telephony endpoints. Telephone numbers are the addresses of participants in a telephone network, reachable by a system of destination code routing. Telephone numbering plans are defined in each of the administrative regions of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and in private telephone networks.
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