Place Names

Sub-Theme

Gazetteer of Australia

Theme 
Place Names
Aggregator 
Geoscience Australia

A geographical index or dictionary of the names of cultural and physical features and their associated location in Australia.

These names can include approved, unapproved, commonly used, alternate and historical place names.

National Datasets in this Sub-Theme

National Gazetteer of Australia

Purpose

The use of consistent and accurate geographic names is extremely important across daily activities in every sector; as the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) recognise: ‘Place names can identify and reflect culture, heritage and landscape.’

Dataset Uses

Correct use of accurate place names can provide benefits to local, national and international communities engaged in:

  • Trade and commerce
  • Population censuses and national statistics
  • Property rights and cadastre
  • Urban and regional planning
  • Environmental management
  • Natural disaster preparedness, relief, and aid
  • Security strategy and peacekeeping operations
  • Search and rescue operations
  • Map and atlas production
  • Automatic navigation
  • Tourism
  • Communications, including postal and news services

Access and Licensing

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Quality

Accuracy within the current Gazetteer of Australia is a

  • construct of each jurisdictions data collection
  • function of when the data was collected or revised

Originally the gazetteer had a specified accuracy of nearest ½ degree. While most jurisdictions have far superseded such a broad precision, there is still no defined positional accuracy established.

Current Status

The current Gazetteer of Australia is totally reliant on the accuracy of the data supplied by each jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction has different requirements and legislation for the collection of their place name data which means that accuracy varies between jurisdictions.

Future Status

The Gazetteer of Australia will:

  • Deliver all formally identified place name data and information from government in real time and as points, lines and polygons where appropriate
  • Be delivered as a spatial accurate product containing formal, informal and place name aliases, including but not limited to:
    • Road names
    • Government office locations, business and service delivery points
    • Indigenous locations
    • Alias and historical place names
    • Environmental, business and cultural information
  • As much as possible be integrated into the United Nations Spatial Data Infrastructure (UNSDI) Gazetteer Framework

This dataset will provide:

  • Open access to this information using a simple to use, single point of access
  • A two-way mechanism for users to feedback information on perceived errors, omissions or other issues

A clear distinction between official and unofficial (including historical) names.

Key Users

Federal, State and Territory Government Departments, industry and research communities and business community at large.

Version

1.00

Details