The Office of the Surveyor-General and Land Information (OSGLI) allocates and records street address numbers for all urban and rural residences and commercial properties in the ACT under the provisions of the Districts Act 2002. Accurately allocating and correctly using street addresses is essential for quick response by emergency services. It also improves mail delivery and services such as waste management, and helps visitors unfamiliar with the area.

Standard residential housing

Wherever possible, numbers run from a major to a minor street and generally radiate from the city centre. Odd numbers are allocated to the left hand side and even numbers to the right hand side of the street. Corner blocks are allocated a number usually where the front door/main residential access and letter box are located. Depending on the house design, the front door may be on a different street frontage from the driveway. Generally, the correct number corresponds to the front door and letterbox location.

If a cul-de-sac has the same name as the adjoining street, the numbering for that street will continue into the cul-de-sac. In some situations, redevelopment may create a greater number of blocks than existed previously. In this case, an alphanumeric will be used to supplement the existing numbering, for example, 44, 46A, 46B, 48, 50.

Rear Lane Way/Surveillance Units (above Garages)

This situation applies to units at the back of a block facing a lane. If these units have entrances that front a rear laneway or side road they will be addressed off that road or lane. They should not have an address off the main/front residence, i.e. 48 and 48A. In other words, the rear unit's number and street name will differ from the front residence.

Medium density housing

Medium density developments are generally numbered the same as standard residential blocks. For example, if three units are built on 20 Smith Street, the units would be addressed 1/20 Smith Street, 2/20 Smith Street and 3/20 Smith Street.

The exception is where single units each front a public road. These are numbered as though they are part of a standard residential housing development. Standard residential blocks amalgamated to accommodate several units will be allocated a number previously used by one of the original blocks. A large block of units having more than one street entrance may be allocated a number for each entrance.

Commercial blocks

Commercial blocks are also numbered generally the same as standard residential blocks. A block with frontage to two or more public roads may be allocated more than one street address if different business activities occur at each frontage. Units and shops that are subleased are not given a street number but are identified by an alpha or numeric suffix. Ranged addresses, i.e. 40-48, are not allocated and are discouraged from being used.

Rural properties

Rural properties are allocated a number based on the distance along a road the property's access point is from the start of the road. Odd numbers are allocated to the left of the road and even numbers to the right, as in urban areas. Numbers are allocated on the basis of a 20 metre frontage. They are determined by dividing the distance from the start point by 10 and then rounding down or up as required. For example, a property whose entrance gate is 1892 metres from the start of Sutton Road and on the left is given an address of 189 Sutton Road. A property directly opposite would be 190 Sutton Road.

Requesting a new or amended address

For any street number allocation enquiries please contact Surveying and Spatial Data on 02 6207 1600 or 02 6207 1607.

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