Former Australian dialling codes

=Introduction of Area Codes (pre-1990s)=

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, area codes covered a very small area, sometimes only one exchange, but gradually exchanges conglomerated to become area codes. Length of codes vary, from two digits in large centres like Sydney to over five digits in smaller areas.

The digit following the leading zero was chosen to represent a rough geographic area, with following numbers

* 00... Tasmania (but also used for Freecall, premium rate and other special numbers)
* 01... Mobile phone and other related services
* 02... Sydney
* 03... Melbourne
* 04... New South Wales regional areas roughly within 250 km of Sydney
* 05... Victoria regional areas
* 06... Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales regional areas outside the 04 codes
* 07... Queensland
* 08... South Australia and the Northern Territory
* 09... Western Australia, Christmas Island* and the Cocos Keeling Islands*

'*'Until 1994, these territories were not part of the Australian numbering plan, and instead used the code 672, for the Australian External Territories of Norfolk Island and the Australian Antarctic Territory. Numbers in use before 1994 are now in the number ranges of 08 9162 for Christmas Island and 08 9164 for the Cocos Keeling Islands, but other ranges are now used on the islands (at least in theory).

By 1994, there were 6 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 south-west Western Australia, and one area code of four digits, Kangaroo Island (0848), which was not incorporated into a larger area code before 1994.

Renumbering (1994-1998)

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 dialled in their entirety.

In almost all cases, the former area code was incorporated into the new subscriber number: Canberra numbers went from (06) 2xx xxx to (02) 62xx xxxx, numbers in the Northern Territory went from (089) xxx xxx to (08) 89xx 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.

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 March 1, 1999, many still believe they are required to dial an area code outside their own telephone book area, but this is not the case.

Former Area Codes and Systems of Change

The following table is listed in numerical order by area code. Note that this does not list all current numbers for a certain area. See the Australian telephone numbering plan for more information.

Former Number	Current Number	Date of Change	Location of Area Code
(002) xxx xxx	(03) 62xx xxxx	19/08/96	Hobart & Southern Tasmania
(003) xxx xxx	(03) 63xx xxxx	19/08/96	Launceston & North East Tasmania
(004) xxx xxx	(03) 64xx xxxx	19/08/96	Burnie, Devonport, North West & West Coast of Tasmania
(01z) xxx xxx	041z xxx xxx		Mobile phone codes (covering (014), (016), (018) and (019), although some (016) and (018) numbers have been grandfathered and are still in use.)
(02) xxx xxxx	(02) 9xxx xxxx	29/07/96	Sydney
(02) xxx xxx	(02) 91xx xxxx	29/07/96
(03) xxx xxxx	(03) 9xxx xxxx	08/05/95	Melbourne
(042) xxx xxx	(02) 42xx xxxx	18/08/97	Wollongong
(043) xxx xxx	(02) 43xx xxxx	18/08/97	Central Coast, Gosford
(044) xxx xxx	(02) 44xx xxxx	18/08/97	Batemans Bay, Moruya, Narooma, Nowra, Ulladulla
(045) xxx xxx	(02) 45xx xxxx	18/08/97	Richmond, Windsor
(046) xxx xxx	(02) 46xx xxxx	18/08/97	Camden, Campbelltown, Picton
(047) xxx xxx	(02) 47xx xxxx	18/08/97	Katoomba, Penrith, Springwood
(048) xxx xxx	(02) 48xx xxxx	18/08/97	Bowral, Braidwood, Crookwell, Goulburn, Mittagong, Moss Vale
(049) xxx xxx	(02) 49xx xxxx	18/08/97	Cessnock, Maitland, Newcastle
(050) xxx xxx	(03) 50xx xxxx	11/11/96	Balranald, Hopetoun, Mildura, Ouyen, Swan Hill
(051) xxx xxx	(03) 51xx xxxx	11/11/96	Bairnsdale, Moe, Morwell, Sale, Traralgon
(052) xxx xxx	(03) 52xx xxxx	11/11/96	Colac, Geelong
(053) xxx xxx	(03) 53xx xxxx	11/11/96	Ararat, Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Horsham, Nhill, Stawell
(054) xxx xxx	(03) 54xx xxxx	11/11/96	Bendigo, Castlemaine, Charlton, Echuca, Kerang, Kyneton, Maryborough
(055) xxx xxx	(03) 55xx xxxx	11/11/96	Camperdown, Casterton, Edenhope, Hamilton, Portland, Warrnambool
(056) xxx xxx	(03) 56xx xxxx	11/11/96	Foster, Korumburra, Leongatha, Warragul, Wonthaggi
(057) xxx xxx	(03) 57xx xxxx	11/11/96	Alexandra, Benalla, Myrtleford, Seymour, Wangaratta
(058) xxx xxx	(03) 58xx xxxx	11/11/96	Cobram, Deniliquin, Numurkah, Shepparton
(059) xxx xxx	(03) 59xx xxxx	11/11/96	Cranbourne, Healesville, Mornington
(06) 2xx xxxx*	(02) 62xx xxxx	18/08/97	Canberra, Queanbeyan, Yass
(060) xxx xxx	(02) 60xx xxxx	18/08/97	Albury, Corowa, Corryong, Holbrook, Wodonga
(063) xxx xxx	(02) 63xx xxxx	18/08/97	Bathurst, Cowra, Lithgow, Mudgee, Orange, Rylstone, Young
(064) xxx xxx	(02) 64xx xxxx	18/08/97	Bega, Berridale, Bombala, Cooma, Eden, Jindabyne, Merimbula, Snowy Mountains
(065) xxx xxx	(02) 65xx xxxx	18/08/97	Forster, Gloucester, Kempsey, Lord Howe Island, Muswellbrook, Nambucca, Port Macquarie, Scone, Singleton, Taree, Wauchope
(066) xxx xxx	(02) 66xx xxxx	18/08/97	Ballina, Casino, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Lismore, Murwillumbah
(067) xxx xxx	(02) 67xx xxxx	18/08/97	Armidale, Glen Innes, Gunnedah, Inverell, Moree, Narrabri, Tamworth
(068) xxx xxx	(02) 68xx xxxx	18/08/97	Cobar, Condobolin, Dubbo, Forbes, Parkes, Wellington
(069) xxx xxx	(02) 69xx xxxx	18/08/97	Cootamundra, Griffith, Hay, Leeton, Narrandera, Temora, Tumut, Wagga Wagga, West Wyalong
(07) xxx xxxx	(07) 3xxx xxxx	17/07/95	Brisbane
(070) xxx xxx	(07) 40xx xxxx	10/11/97	Cairns
(071) xxx xxx	(07) 41xx xxxx	10/11/97	Bundaberg, Gayndah, Hervey Bay, Kingaroy, Maryborough, Murgon
(074) xxx xxx	(07) 54xx xxxx	07/10/96	Boonah, Caboolture, Esk, Gatton, Gympie, Sunshine Coast
(075) xxx xxx	(07) 55xx xxxx	05/06/95	Beaudesert, Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Coolangatta
(076) xxx xxx	(07) 46xx xxxx	10/11/97	Charleville, Dalby, Dirranbandi, Goondiwindi, Inglewood, Longreach, Miles, Roma, St George, Stanthorpe, Toowoomba, Warwick
(077) xxx xxx	(07) 47xx xxxx	10/11/97	Cloncurry, Hughenden, Mount Isa, Townsville
(079) xxx xxx	(07) 49xx xxxx	10/11/97	Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton
(08) xxx xxxx	(08) 8xxx xxxx	19/08/96	Adelaide
(08) xxx xxx	(08) 84xx xxxx
(080) xxx xxx	(08) 80xx xxxx	03/02/97	Broken Hill
(0848) xx xxx	See Below	03/02/97	Kangaroo Island
(085) xxx xxx	(08) 85xx xxxx	03/02/97	Barossa Valley, Riverland
(086) xxx xxx	(08) 86xx xxxx	03/02/97	Ceduna, Eyre Peninsula, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Whyalla
(087) xxx xxx	(08) 87xx xxxx	03/02/97	Mount Gambier, Naracoorte
(088) xxx xxx	(08) 88xx xxxx	13/02/95	Clare, Kadina, Yorke Peninsula
(089) xxx xxx	(08) 89xx xxxx	06/05/96	Northern Territory
(09) xxx xxxx	(08) 9xxx xxxx	05/05/97	Perth
(090) xxx xxx	(08) 90xx xxxx	05/05/97	Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Merredin
(091) xxx xxx	(08) 91xx xxxx	05/05/97	Broome, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Derby, Port Hedland
(096) xxx xxx	(08) 96xx xxxx	05/05/97	Moora, Northam, York
(097) xxx xxx	(08) 97xx xxxx	05/05/97	Bridgetown, Bunbury, Busselton
(098) xxx xxx	(08) 98xx xxxx	05/05/97	Albany, Katanning, Narrogin, Wagin
(099) xxx xxx	(08) 99xx xxxx	05/05/97	Carnarvon, Geraldton, Meekatharra, Mullewa

-* The Canberra area code was formerly (062) but, due to demand, incorporated the 2 into the subscriber number during the early 1990s. Despite this, the area code was still listed as (062) is some areas before the change to eight digits.

Note: Subscriber numbers in (07), (08) and (09) could not begin with certain numbers due to clashes when dialling outside the area code (e.g. (07) 4xx xxxx in Brisbane would clash with (074) xxx xxx in the Sunshine Coast). As a result, Brisbane numbers began with 2..., 3... or 8..., Adelaide numbers with 2..., 3... or 4..., and Perth numbers with 2..., 3..., 4... and 5...

Minor Changes

Kangaroo Island was the only area in Australia that wasn't integrated into a larger area code by 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) 21 000 became [phone]).

Old Number	Town	New Number
(0848) 21 xxx	Kingscote	(08) 8553 4xxx
(0848) 22 xxx	Kingscote	(08) 8553 2xxx
(0848) 23 xxx	Kingscote	(08) 8553 3xxx
(0848) 24 xxx	Kingscote	(08) 8553 0xxx
(0848) 28 xxx	Macgillivray	(08) 8553 8xxx
(0848) 29 xxx	Cygnet River	(08) 8553 9xxx
(0848) 31 xxx	Penneshaw	(08) 8553 1xxx
(0848) 33 xxx	American River	(08) 8553 7xxx
(0848) 35 xxx	Wisanger	(08) 8553 5xxx
(0848) 36 xxx	Stokes Bay	(08) 8559 2xxx
(0848) 37 xxx	Karatta	(08) 8559 7xxx
(0848) 93 xxx	Gosse	(08) 8559 3xxx
(0848) 94 xxx	Harriet	(08) 8559 4xxx
(0848) 96 xxx	Parndana	(08) 8559 6xxx
(0848) 97 xxx	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, [phone] may be confused with [phone] (which would be used for [phone]) during the change. To prevent this, before the change to eight digits, the local number was changed, so that, in the example, [phone] would become [phone], and then [phone]. A list of all numbers changed in this way is shown in the table below.

Old Number	New Number	Date of Change	Affected Towns
(002) 62x xxx	(002) 60x xxx	07/11/94	Richmond, Campania
(003) 63x xxx	(003) 67x xxx	09/01/95	Chudleigh, Caveside
(02) 99x xxxx	(02) 999x xxxx	25/07/94	Sydney
(02) 99x xxx	(02) 9999 xxxx	25/07/94
(02) 9xx xxxx	(02) 99xx xxxx	24/07/95
(043) 43x xxx	(043) 44x xxx	19/02/96	Woy Woy
(046) 46x xxx	(046) 48x xxx	19/02/96	Narellan
(048) 48x xxx	(048) 44x xxx	19/02/96	Roslyn, Bannister, Bungonia, Windellama, Quialigo
(049) 49x xxx	(049) 44x xxx	19/02/96	Dudley
(051) 51x xxx	(051) 54x xxx	13/03/95	Orbost
(052) 52x xxx	(052) 58x xxx	20/03/95	Queenscliff
(053) 53x xxx	(053) 54x xxx	20/02/95	Willaura, Moyston, Elmhurst, Crowlands
(054) 54x xxx	(054) 57x xxx	13/03/95	Myall, Murrabit, Mystic Park, Benjeroop, Appin South, Lake Meran
(056) 56x xxx	(056) 58x xxx	10/04/95	Korumburra
(057) 57x xxx	(057) 54x xxx	06/02/95	Mount Beauty, Coral Bank
(058) 58x xxx	(058) 52x xxx	06/03/95	Tongala
(063) 63x xxx	(063) 60x xxx	19/02/96	Orange
(065) 65x xxx	(065) 67x xxx	19/02/96	Smithtown, Hat Head
(066) 66x xxx	(066) 61x xxx	19/02/96	Tabulam South, Rappville, Myrtle Creek, Whiporie
(067) 67x xxx	(067) 60x xxx	19/02/96	Tamworth, Bithramere, Kootingal, Winton, Westdale, Hallsville, Nemingha
(068) 68x xxx	(068) 64x xxx	19/02/96	Yarrabandai
(069) 69x xxx	(069) 60x xxx	19/02/96	Griffith
(085) 85x xxx	(085) 95x xxx	27/02/95	Renmark, Berri, Paringa, Taldra, Cooltong, Murtho, Loxton
(086) 86x xxx	(086) 76x xxx	20/02/95	Cummins, Edillilie, Yeelanna, Karkoo, Brooker, Cockaleechie
(089) 89x xxx	(089) 99x xxx	24/04/96	Darwin, Northern Territory
(097) 972 xxx	(097) 970 xxx	19/02/96	Australind

External links

* [http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD//pc=PC_2466 8-digit numbering on the official ACMA website]