1. Overview

1.1. Data product specification title

G-NAF Product Description

1.2. Reference date

August 2025

1.3. Informal description of the data product

G-NAF (Geocoded National Address File) is a trusted index of Australian address information. It contains the state, suburb, street, number and coordinate reference (or “geocode”) for street addresses in Australia. G-NAF uses existing and recognised address sources (referred to as contributors) from the state and territory government land records and Commonwealth government agencies. The Mesh Block data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and is part of their Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). A rigorous process is used that involves textual address comparison, matching and geospatial validation to provide both national consistency and national coverage.

1.4. Responsible party

Geoscape Australia Limited (Geoscape)
Unit 6, 113 Canberra Avenue, GRIFFITH ACT 2603 Australia
T: +61 2 6260 9000
E: support@geoscape.com.au
URL: http://www.geoscape.com.au
ABN: 23 089 912 710

1.5. Language

English

1.6. Topic category

Address files for urban, rural and locality areas within Australia.

1.7. Distribution Format

PDF

1.8. Glossary

For general geospatial, addressing, and organisational terms, refer to the Geoscape glossary.

The following list defines some of the terms used by Geoscape for G-NAF but is not necessarily the same definition as used by others.

Address Contributor

Supplier of address information to G‑NAF.

See also Supplier.

Address Level Geocode

An address in G‑NAF that has a parcel‑level geocode (i.e. a geocode reliability code of 2).

Also referred to as a parcel level or property level address. The address will have one or more address site geocodes.

See also Geocode.

Alias Address
Alternate Address

Another label for a Principal Address that differs in one or more address components.

Alias Addresses share the same location as the Principal Address.

See also Address.

Confidence Level

Indicates the level of usage of an address across contributor address datasets used to build G‑NAF.

Gap Geocode

A geocode created programmatically based on address ranging where no property‑specific geocode exists.

This geocode may not lie within a property polygon.

Geocode Level Type

Indicates which geocode levels have been assigned to an address.

Every G‑NAF address must have a locality‑level geocode. Addresses may also have street‑level and address‑level geocodes.

Geocode Priority

A priority order used by Geoscape to select a default geocode representing the highest‑precision location available for an address.

Geocode Reliability

Indicates geocode precision and how the geocode was generated.

Geocode Type

The type of address‑level geocode assigned to an address (e.g. ‘BUILDING CENTROID’).

An address may have multiple address‑level geocode types.

G‑NAF Merge Criteria

Components of an address string used by G‑NAF processing to uniquely identify an address.

Primary Address

A principal address that contains all address components except flat or level information.

Where flat or level information exists, it forms part of a Secondary Address.

See also Address.

Primary Postcodes

Unique integers derived from postcodes and used to distinguish between gazetted localities within a jurisdiction that share the same name.

Primary postcodes may not coincide with delivery postcodes.

Principal Address

Accepted label for an address that may have zero, one, or multiple associated Alias Address records.

See also Address.

Secondary Address

An address that includes flat or level number information.

A Secondary Address may be linked to a Primary Address.

Street Locality

A street or road within a particular locality.

Streets are unique to a locality; segments crossing locality boundaries are treated as separate street localities.

See also Locality.

Street Locality Alias

An alternative name for a Street Locality.

1.10. Privacy

Geoscape products and services should not contain any personal names or other personal information. Geoscape undertakes reasonable data cleansing steps as part of its production processes to ensure that is the case. If you think that personal information may have inadvertently been included in Geoscape products or services, please contact support@geoscape.com.au

1.11. Addressing standards

Australia has two national standards applicable to addressing:

  • AS/NZS 4819:2011 Geographic information—Rural and urban addressing

  • AS4590:2006 Interchange of Client Information.

1.12. About AS/NZ 4819:2011

The standard AS/NZ 4819:2011 is intended for use by agencies that are responsible for addressing. The goal of AS/NZ 4819:2011 is to specify requirements for assigning addresses that can be readily and unambiguously identified and located. To achieve this goal, the objectives of the standard are:

  • Localities are to enable addresses to be uniquely and clearly identified

  • Assigned names for roads or other primary means of access enable addresses to

be readily and uniquely identified

  • Assigned address numbering enables address sites to be readily located

  • Signage enables assigned addresses to be readily identified and located

  • Address information enables sites to be readily located.

1.13. About AS4590:2006

The standard AS4590:2006 sets out requirements of data elements for the interchange of client information. There are several elements specific to addressing. As G-NAF contains both old and new addresses, it is more closely related to the structure in AS4590:2006.

1.14. About the National Address Management Framework

The National Address Management Framework (NAMF) has been developed as a national, coordinated approach to address management. It is a consistent, standards-based framework which will guide the process for verifying addresses and provide a standard for exchange of address data. Appendix A sets out the relationship between G-NAF, AS450:2006 and NAMF fields.