Acknowledging Traditional Country in mail

18 November 2020 by

You can promote reconciliation with Australia’s First Nations every time you send or invite mail.

In response to a campaign by Gameroi woman, Rachael McPhail, Australia Post has updated its addressing guidelines to encourage the use traditional place names when addressing mail.


The text below is taken from the Australia Post Addressing Guidelines

Including Traditional Place names

To acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land your item is being delivered on, you can include those place names in the address field.

To find Traditional Place names, check AIATSIS, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Councils, or Cultural Centres in your local area.

When sending items you can include a Traditional Place name in either the address you’re sending from, or in the recipient’s address.

  • In the ‘from’ address when sending  – To ensure that the item will be delivered correctly we recommend that the Traditional Place name is included below your name or company name, but above the street address.
  • In the ‘to’ address when sending – When addressing a parcel or letter, place the Traditional Place name after the recipient’s name, but before the street address, suburb or town.
  • When receiving items – As a recipient you’re welcome to include a Traditional Place name when providing your delivery address, either online or in person. To acknowledge Traditional Custodians, include the Traditional Place name below your name, but above your street address.

At Australia Post, we have a long and proud history of promoting and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture and implementing measures that contribute to a lasting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

To make sure the item will be delivered correctly we recommend that the Traditional Place name is included below the recipient’s name but above the street address.