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Post Guide – Letter Post & Electronic Mail within Australia
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Post Guide
Letter Post & Electronic Mail within Australia
November 2005
8833731
ABN 28 864 970 579
Letter Post Guide
1
Australia Post Headquarters
GPO Box 1777
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
LETTER POST GUIDE
NOVEMBER 2005
Amendment 2005/1L
Authorised by A Robinson, Group Manager Letters, Australia Post Headquarters
Purpose
The Letter Post Guide contains the standards of the Australian Postal Corporation regarding Letter
Post services within Australia. The Letter Post Guide is revised and published periodically.
Terms and conditions of service
Under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989, the Board of the Australian Postal Corporation
determines the terms and conditions that apply to postal services. Terms and conditions are
contained in the Australia Post Terms and Conditions (APT&C) and Determination of Postage
Charges (Rates Determination), which are available on the Internet at
http://www.auspost.com.au/misc/terms.asp.
Disclaimer
Although Australia Post has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this Post
Guide at the time of publication, Australia Post makes no warranty, guarantee or representation
regarding the correctness, completeness, reliability, suitability or accuracy of this Post Guide. The
information in this Post Guide may be revised at any time and services may be modified, added to or
withdrawn without notice. Up-to-date information can be obtained from any post office. Australia
Post shall not be liable to any person, whether a purchaser of this Post Guide or not, for any loss or
damage of any kind whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions in this Post Guide or from
reliance placed upon all or any part of the contents of this Post Guide.
Instructions
Please file this Letter Post Guide within the Post Guides cover as it contains references to other Post
Guides in the series. Other current Post Guides are:
♦ General Post Guide
Amendment No. 04/1G
♦ Parcel Post Guide
Amendment No. 2005/1P
♦ International Post Guide
Amendment No. 04/1Φ
♦ Dangerous & Prohibited Goods and Packaging Post Guide
Amendment No. 2005/1D
♦ Post Guide Index
Issue No. 4
ABN 28864 970 579
November 2005
2
Letter Post Guide
Addressing and distribution requests
Change of
address
New Post Guide
subscriptions
Additional
copies of Post
Guide
Copy the order form at the back page of this Post
Guide and send the completed copy to:
Post Guide
POSTlogistics
48-62 Pound Road West
DANDENONG SOUTH VIC 3175.
Or send a facsimile of the form to:
(03) 9887 1033.
Or email [email protected]
Editorial suggestions
Is any
information not
clear or
confusing?
Have you found
a mistake such
as a misspelled
or incorrect
word?
Do you find this
Directory easy
to use? Can you
easily find what
you need?
Have you any
suggestions for
improving this
Post Guide?
November 2005
We aim to make this Post Guide:
♦ easy to use
♦ easy to read
♦ accurate and complete.
We welcome ideas from all Australia Post staff
and customers that will help us in this aim.
Send your comments, suggestions, brickbats or
bouquets to:
Editor
Post Guide
Australia Post HQ
GPO Box 1777
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
or send a fax to (03) 9204 7891.
Or email [email protected]
Please include references to page numbers,
where appropriate.
Also, let us know how to contact you, as we will
acknowledge all contributions.
Many thanks.
Editor
Post Guide.
Letter Post Guide
3
Table of Contents
How to use this Post Guide.................................................................................... 5
Section 1 – Summary of allowable Letter Post service combinations .......... 6
L1.1 – Summary of Article Characteristics by Service ......................................................6
Section 2 – Letter Post – Weight, size, contents ................................................. 8
L2.1 – Letters – General ...................................................................................................8
L2.2 – Small Letter............................................................................................................8
L2.2.1 – Recommended sizes – Small Letter ..............................................................9
L2.2.2 – Sealing of envelopes .....................................................................................9
L2.2.3 – Other characteristics of a Small Letter envelope ...........................................9
L2.3 – Large Letter............................................................................................................9
L2.3.1 – Recommended sizes – Large Letter..............................................................9
L2.3.2 – Sealing of envelopes .....................................................................................9
L2.3.3 – Other characteristics of a Large Letter envelope ...........................................9
L2.4 – Seasonal Greeting Card.......................................................................................10
L2.5 – Preparation of Letter Post mail.............................................................................10
L2.5.1 – Contents of a Small Letter ...........................................................................10
Section 3 – Letter Post Services ......................................................................... 11
L3.1 – Ordinary Letter Post .............................................................................................11
L3.1.1 – Lodgement ..................................................................................................11
L3.1.2 – Delivery timetable ........................................................................................11
L3.1.3 – Postage prepaid envelopes .........................................................................12
L3.2 – Express Post ........................................................................................................13
L3.2.1 – Supplementary services ..............................................................................13
L3.2.2 – Service combinations with Express Post .....................................................13
L3.2.3 – The Express Post guarantee .......................................................................13
L3.2.4 – Express Post contents.................................................................................13
L3.2.5 – Valuable items .............................................................................................13
L3.2.6 – Express Post prepaid envelopes .................................................................14
L3.2.7 – Lodgement methods and times ...................................................................14
L3.2.8 – Delivery .......................................................................................................14
L3.2.9 – The Express Post interstate network ...........................................................15
L3.2.10 – The Express Post intrastate networks .......................................................15
L3.3 – Registered Post....................................................................................................16
L3.3.1 – Supplementary services and service combinations .....................................16
L3.3.2 – Articles that you should always send by Registered Post............................16
L3.3.3 – Articles not accepted in Registered Post .....................................................16
L3.3.4 – Proof of posting ...........................................................................................16
L3.3.5 – Proof of delivery...........................................................................................16
L3.3.6 – Registered Post lodgement document.........................................................17
L3.3.7 – Registered Post prepaid envelopes.............................................................17
L3.3.8 – Registered Post prepaid labels....................................................................17
L3.3.9 – Registered Post imprint ...............................................................................17
L3.3.10 – Enquiries ...................................................................................................17
Section 4 – Supplementary Services .................................................................. 18
L4.1 – Insurance to $5000 ..............................................................................................18
L4.2 – Delivery Confirmation...........................................................................................18
L4.3 – Person-to-Person delivery....................................................................................19
Section 5 – Special Services................................................................................ 20
L5.1 – Articles for the blind..............................................................................................20
L5.2 – Unaddressed Mail Service (UMS) ........................................................................24
L5.3 – Reply Paid service ...............................................................................................25
November 2005
4
Letter Post Guide
Section 6 – Bulk Letter services .......................................................................... 29
L6.1 – Bulk Letter sizes and weights...............................................................................29
L6.2 – Local Delivery Service to country areas ...............................................................30
L6.3 – Print Post .............................................................................................................32
L6.4 – PreSort Letter Service..........................................................................................35
L6.5 – Charity Mail ..........................................................................................................39
L6.6 – Clean Mail ............................................................................................................40
L6.7 – Impact Mail...........................................................................................................41
Section 7 – Electronic mail services ................................................................... 42
L7.1 – Introduction to Electronic Mail ..............................................................................42
L7.2 – EDIPost................................................................................................................42
L7.3 – Lettergram............................................................................................................43
L7.4 – FaxPost................................................................................................................44
Section 8 – Letter Post – General Provisions .................................................... 46
L8.1 – Scope of the Letter Post.......................................................................................46
L8.1.1 – Definition of Australia...................................................................................46
L8.1.2 – Definition of same State within Australia .....................................................46
L8.2 – Methods of payment of postage ...........................................................................47
L8.2.1 – Postage stamps...........................................................................................47
L8.2.2 – Summary of ways of paying postage...........................................................47
L8.3 – Post-boxes ...........................................................................................................47
L8.4 – Acceptance of mail by postal delivery officers......................................................47
L8.5 – Prohibitions ..........................................................................................................48
L8.6 – Change-of-address and holding service...............................................................48
L8.7 – Unclaimed, undeliverable, refused mail ...............................................................48
L8.8 – Withdrawal from the post .....................................................................................48
L8.9 – Compensation and insurance ..............................................................................48
L8.10 – Enquiries and complaints ...................................................................................49
Section 9 – Letter Post specifications ................................................................ 50
L9.1 – Envelopes ............................................................................................................50
L9.2 – Postcards .............................................................................................................55
L9.3 – Plastic wrapping and covers ................................................................................57
L9.4 – Paper wrappers....................................................................................................57
L9.5 – Zip-fastened envelopes........................................................................................58
L9.6 – Self-mailers ..........................................................................................................58
Section 10 – Correct Addressing Standards ...................................................... 59
L10.1 – What is correct addressing?...............................................................................59
L10.2 – Address Layout on Envelopes ...........................................................................62
L10.3 – Incorrect addressing...........................................................................................73
L10.4 – Sender’s return address.....................................................................................73
Section 11 – Articles that Australia Post may refuse to carry .......................... 74
D11.1 – General principles .............................................................................................74
D11.2 – Postage stamps and postage meter impressions ..............................................74
D11.3 – Words or symbols likely to delay or misdirect ...................................................74
D11.4 – Envelopes or wrappings ....................................................................................74
D11.5 – Addressing ........................................................................................................74
Index ....................................................................................................................... 75
Order Form/Change of address/Replacement Guides ................................. 78/79
November 2005
Letter Post Guide
5
How to use this Post Guide
This Post Guide contains detailed reference material about the Letter Post services from Australia
Post.
To help you go directly to the right place, we show here the most common questions you ask and the
quick way to find the right answers.
A numeric reference, for example L1.1.1, refers to the section number in this Post Guide. A
reference in italics, for example Post Charges Booklet (8833665), refers to another Australia Post
publication or document. The number that follows is the Australia Post inventory reference.
All details of Letter Post charges are in Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
Before you file this Post Guide, take a little time to understand the way it structures its information.
This will save time later when you need to find something in a hurry.
What can I send in
the Letter Post?
How big?
How heavy?
What services can I use?
How long to deliver?
How much
does the
service cost?
Refer to the
Post Charges
Booklet
Can I insure the
letter or confirm
delivery?
Are any special
services
available?
What about
bulk mail?
What about
e-mail?
What rules apply to
the Letter Post?
What if I have
other queries?
Small Letter
Large Letter
Seasonal Greeting Card
Preparation of Letter Post mail
L2.2
L2.3
L2.4
L2.5
Ordinary Letter Post
Express Post
Registered Post
L3.1
L3.2
L3.3
Insurance to $5000
Delivery confirmation
Person-to-person delivery
L4.1
L4.2
L4.3
Articles for the blind
Unaddressed Mail Service
Reply Paid
L5.1
L5.2
L5.3
Refer to
Section 6
Refer to
Section 7
For the general Letter Post rules, refer to
Section 8.
For the physical specifications of envelopes
and other articles carried in the Letter Post,
refer to Section 9.
For correct addressing standards, refer to
Section 10.
Check:
• the Table of Contents on page 3
• the Index on page 75.
If you cannot find what you need:
• telephone 13 13 18.
November 2005
6
Letter Post Guide
SECTION 1 –SUMMARY OF ALLOWABLE LETTER POST
SERVICE COMBINATIONS
Registered Post may be used with Clean Mail, PreSort Letter Service, Charity Mail, Local Delivery
Service and Pre Paid envelopes.
L1.1 – Summary of Article Characteristics by Service
L1.1.1 – Ordinary Post
Small Letter Ordinary Post
Large Letter Ordinary Post
Min
-
-
Max
130
260
Min
-
-
Max
240
360
Thickness (mm)
5
20
Weight (gms)
250
500
Height (mm)
Length (mm)
Ratio (Height x Length)
-
-
Plastic Wrapping
Yes
Yes
Address Conditions
Preferred
Preferred
L1.1.2 – Clean Mail
Small
Small Plus
88
88
Max
130
162
Min
138
138
Max
240
240
Thickness (mm)
5
5
Weight (gms)
125
125
Ratio (Height x Length)
1:1.414
1:1.414
Plastic Wrapping
No
No
Address Conditions
Yes
Yes
Height (mm)
Length (mm)
November 2005
Min
Letter Post Guide
7
L1.1.3 – PreSort
Height (mm)
Length (mm)
Small
Small Plus
Medium
Large
88
88
-
-
Max
130
162
180
260
Min
138
138
-
-
Max
Min
240
240
260
360
Thickness (mm)
5
5
20
20
Weight (gms)
125
125
250
500
Ratio (Height x Length)
1:1.200
1:1.200
1:1
1:1
Plastic Wrapping
Yes*
Yes*
Yes
Yes
Address Conditions
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
*Conditions apply refer to relevant Product Guide for full details
L1.1.4 – Print Post
Small
Large
Other
Min
88
-
-
Max
130
260
260
Min
138
-
-
Max
240
360
360
Thickness (mm)
5
20
20
Weight (gms)
125
500
1000
Ratio (Height x Length)
1:1.200
1:1
1:1
Plastic Wrapping
Yes*
Yes
Yes
Address Conditions
Yes
Yes
Yes
Height (mm)
Length (mm)
*Conditions apply refer to relevant Product Guide for full details
L1.1.5 – Impact Mail
Small
Small Plus
Min
88
-
Max
130
162
Min
138
-
Max
240
240
Thickness (mm)
5
5
Weight (gms)
125
125
Height (mm)
Length (mm)
November 2005
8
Letter Post Guide
SECTION 2 – LETTER POST – WEIGHT, SIZE, CONTENTS
L2.1 – Letters – General
A Letter is a rectangular article with a length, a width, a thickness, and a weight.
Length
Width
There are two letter sizes for the Ordinary Letter service:
♦ a Small Letter
♦ a Large Letter
Bulk Letter services use different terminology to allow a wider range of differential pricing. Refer to
L6.1 – Bulk Letter sizes and weights.
L2.2 – Small Letter
A Small Letter conforms to the limits shown below. Any article with any measurement outside these
limits is not a Small Letter – it is either a Large Letter or a Parcel and attracts the appropriate post
charge. For Bulk Letter services the limits are different. Refer to L6.1 – Bulk Letter sizes and
weights.
Dimension
Maximum
Length
240 mm
Width
130 mm
Thickness
5 mm
Weight
250 grams
Minimum length of a Small Letter
Australia Post strongly recommends that a Small Letter is distinctly oblong in shape. Articles with a
ratio less than 1.414 (length/width) may require manual processing.
November 2005
Letter Post Guide
9
L2.2.1 – Recommended sizes – Small Letter
Within the specified limits for a Small Letter, some envelope sizes are more suitable for machine
processing than others are. Australia Post encourages the use of the following five envelope sizes, as
these lead to quick and efficient mail sorting.
90 mm × 145 mm
11B
DL
110 mm × 220 mm
C6
114 mm × 162 mm
DLE 115 mm × 225 mm
DLX 120 mm × 235 mm
The DL and C6 sizes are international standard sizes, recommended by the International
Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).
L2.2.2 – Sealing of envelopes
Sealing of Small Letters is strongly recommended. If posted unsealed, the opening must not exceed
88 mm.
L2.2.3 – Other characteristics of a Small Letter envelope
For other characteristics of a Small Letter envelope – such as colour, strength, porosity,
luminescence, window panels, and so on – refer to L9.1 – Envelope specifications.
L2.3 – Large Letter
A Large Letter is rectangular, conforms to the limits shown below, and is not a Small Letter. Any
article with any measurement that exceeds these limits is not a Large Letter – it is a Parcel. For Bulk
Letter services the limits are different. Refer to L6.1 – Bulk Letter sizes and weights.
Dimension
Maximum
Length
Width
Thickness
Weight
360 mm
260 mm
20 mm
500 grams
L2.3.1 – Recommended sizes – Large Letter
Australia Post encourages the use of the following five envelope sizes, as these lead to quick and
efficient mail sorting. The envelope opening is the second dimension.
C5
162 mm × 229 mm
B5
176 mm × 250 mm
C4
229 mm × 324 mm
B4
250 mm × 353 mm
B6/C4
125 mm × 324 mm – Recommended for legal documents
All sizes are international standard sizes, recommended by the International Organisation for
Standardisation (ISO).
L2.3.2 – Sealing of envelopes
Sealing of Large Letters is strongly recommended. If posted unsealed, the opening must not exceed
88 mm.
L2.3.3 – Other characteristics of a Large Letter envelope
For other characteristics of a Large Letter envelope – such as colour, strength, porosity,
luminescence, window panels, and so on – refer to L9.1 – Envelope specifications.
November 2005
10
Letter Post Guide
L2.4 – Seasonal Greeting Card
Senders may enclose a Seasonal Greeting Card in a sealed Small or Large Letter envelope endorsed
CARD ONLY. The endorsement must be in the top left of the front of the envelope. During
November and December, Small and Large Seasonal Greeting Cards attract a special post charge
(max weight 125g). Refer to the Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L2.5 – Preparation of Letter Post mail
Small Letters and Large Letters must be prepared for the mail so that:
♦ any person handling the Letter cannot be injured
♦ equipment and vehicles (particularly aircraft) cannot be damaged during processing and carriage
♦ the letter’s contents cannot escape and cause damage to other postal articles
♦ the letter’s contents are protected against loss or damage by the inevitable stresses of high-speed
machine processing and carriage through the post.
For details of how to prepare articles for the mail, refer to Dangerous and Prohibited Goods and
Packaging Post Guide.
L2.5.1 – Contents of a Small Letter
Small Letters should not contain stiff objects such as bottle tops, pens or pencils, computer diskettes,
and so on. High-speed machine processing could damage such objects, or the objects could damage
other letters.
November 2005
Letter Post Guide
11
SECTION 3 – LETTER POST SERVICES
L3.1 – Ordinary Letter Post
This section describes the service for Small Letters and Large Letters that do not use the Express
Post or the Registered Post services. The Ordinary Post service provides:
♦ easy lodgement at street post-boxes or over the counter
♦ carriage by air where an air service is available and is necessary to meet delivery timetables
♦ full customer service back-up
♦ optional use of postage prepaid envelopes
♦ account facilities available under certain circumstances – refer to L8.2 – Methods of payment of
postage.
♦ supplementary and special service options to meet all mailing needs – refer to
L4 – Supplementary Services, L5 – Special Services, and L6 – Bulk Letter Services.
Post charges
Post charges for the Ordinary Letter Post are in the Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L3.1.1 – Lodgement
You may lodge letters for carriage in the Ordinary Post:
♦ in any of the over 15,000 street post boxes around Australia, provided the appropriate postage is
prepaid and any necessary postage stamps attached
♦ over the counter at any of the more than 4000 offices of Australia Post around Australia.
L3.1.2 – Delivery timetable
The table shows the delivery timetable for Ordinary Post within Australia.
If lodged for delivery…
the delivery day
the delivery day
within the same State is…
to another State is…
Within the metropolitan area of
the same State capital city
Within the same regional city or
town and environs
next business day after
lodgement day
next business day after
lodgement day
not applicable
Between the metropolitan areas
of different State capital cities
Between the metropolitan area
of a State capital city and a
country location
Between country locations
not applicable
second business day after
lodgement day
next business day after
lodgement day only for towns in
different States that share a
State boundary – such as
Albury/Wodonga or
Canberra/Queanbeyan
second business day after
lodgement day
third business day after
lodgement day
second business day after
lodgement day
fourth business day after
lodgement day
Other States
For the purpose of the delivery timetable, the Territories of ACT and NT are each a distinct State.
For charging purposes, ACT is part of NSW.
November 2005
12
Letter Post Guide
L3.1.3 – Postage prepaid envelopes
Postage prepaid envelopes provide:
♦ a single price that includes the envelope and prepaid carriage by Ordinary Post to anywhere in
Australia – refer to the Post Charges Booklet (8833665)
♦ carriage by air, where an air service is available and necessary to meet the delivery timetable
♦ retention of validity despite any future postage increases
♦ discounts for bulk purchase
♦ optionally, the sender’s details and messages, such as a company logo, printed on the envelopes.
Registered Post and Insurance are available with postage prepaid envelopes if the appropriate
supplementary fees are prepaid and the lodgement conditions met. Refer to L3.3 – Registered Post
and L4.1 – Insurance.
Small Letter prepaid envelopes
The following prepaid Small Letter envelopes are available. The second dimension is the opening.
Envelope
Dimensions
Maximum
Maximum
Weight
Thickness
DL
110 mm × 220 mm
250 gm
5 mm
DL window-face
110 mm × 220 mm
250 gm
5 mm
C6
114 mm × 162 mm
250 gm
5 mm
C6 window-face
114 mm × 162 mm
250 gm
5 mm
Unit of sale
Single envelope
Pack of 10
Pack of 50
Box of 500
Single envelope
Pack of 10
Pack of 50
Box of 500
Prices depend on the pack size and quantity purchased. Refer to Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
Large Letter prepaid envelopes
The following prepaid Large Letter envelopes are available. The second dimension is the opening.
Envelope
Dimensions
Maximum
Maximum
Weight
Thickness
C5
162 mm × 229 mm
500 gm
20 mm
C4
334 mm × 229mm
500 gm
20 mm
B4
353 mm × 250 mm
500 gm
20 mm
Unit of sale
Single envelope
Pack of 10
Pack of 50
Box of 500
Single envelope
Pack of 10
Prices depend on the pack size and quantity purchased. Refer to Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
November 2005
Letter Post Guide
13
L3.2 – Express Post
The Express Post Letter service provides:
♦ a guaranteed next-business-day delivery
service for letters and documents to specific
places within Express Post networks
♦ low next-business-day delivery costs
♦ further savings for the bulk purchase of Express Post envelopes.
For details of the Express Post Parcel service or the Express Post Platinum service, refer to the
Parcel Post Guide.
Post charges
Express Post charges are in the Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L3.2.1 – Supplementary services
Supplementary services, such as insurance, are not available with Express Post.
L3.2.2 – Service combinations with Express Post
You may not combine Express Post with any other Australia Post service.
L3.2.3 – The Express Post guarantee
Australia Post guarantees next-business-day delivery over specified routes within the Express Post
network to all Express Post envelopes that are correctly lodged on a business day by the published
lodgement time. Should Australia Post fail to deliver on the next business day, the sender receives a
free equivalent-value Express Post envelope.
The Express Post guarantee does not apply to articles that:
♦ are not contained in a prepaid Express Post envelope
♦ are lodged in an Express Post envelope from which the OFFICIAL USE ONLY barcode strip has
been removed or obliterated
♦ are addressed to roadside delivery addresses in Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia or Western
Australia
♦ are incorrectly or inadequately addressed
♦ contain articles other than letters or documents
♦ have been incorrectly lodged in a red street post box
♦ exceed the specified maximum weight.
L3.2.4 – Express Post contents
The Express Post Letter service is for letters and documents only. Documents include items
containing reproducible information, such as computer diskettes or CD-ROMs. (Note: Express Post
International prohibits these items – refer to the International Post Guide (8838525)).
For items prohibited in Express Post – refer to L8.5 – Prohibitions.
L3.2.5 – Valuable items
You should not use Express Post to send valuable items such as cash or negotiable securities.
Australia Post accepts no liability for the loss of or damage to such items. Refer to L3.3.2 – Articles
that you should always send by Registered Post.
November 2005
14
Letter Post Guide
L3.2.6 – Express Post prepaid envelopes
The Express Post Letter service is available only if you use the special Express Post prepaid
envelopes. The price of the envelopes includes the Express Post charge to any Australian
destination. The table shows the available Express Post envelopes. The second dimension is the
opening.
Envelope
Dimensions
Maximum
Maximum
Weight
Thickness
Unit of sale
DL window-face
110 mm × 220 mm
250 gm
20 mm
Packs of 10
C5
162 mm × 229 mm
500 gm
20 mm
B4
353 mm × 250 mm
500 gm
20 mm
B4 two-way
250 mm × 353 mm
internal
500 gm
20 mm
Single envelope
Pack of 10
Single envelope
Pack of 10
Single envelope
Pack of 10
Prices depend on the quantity purchased. Refer to the Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L3.2.7 – Lodgement methods and times
With Express Post envelopes, there are no stamps to buy or forms to fill out:
♦ Purchase your Express Post envelope
♦ Complete the address on the front of the envelope and the sender’s details on the back
♦ Remove and retain the SENDER TO KEEP lift-and-peel tab from the front of the envelope
♦ Lodge in a gold street post-box or over the counter at an office of Australia Post.
Lodgement times – Express Post gold street post-boxes
Post your Express Post envelopes in an Express Post gold street post-box by 6 pm on any business
day. The following places have earlier times (ask your local post office for details):
♦ Perth (outside the CBD)
♦ some provincial centres
Lodgement times – over the counter
Lodge your Express Post envelope over the counter at any office of Australia Post by the advertised
Express Post post-by time. At most larger offices in metropolitan areas, this is 5 pm.
L3.2.8 – Delivery
Usually, Express Post envelopes addressed to a post office box receive an early morning delivery.
Express Post envelopes addressed to a street address receive normal postal delivery. If an item for
delivery in the guaranteed network is not delivered on the next business day after posting, you can
call 13 13 18 to check the delivery date of an Express Post article. You must have retained the
SENDER TO KEEP label or the receipt and know the delivery address and the lodgement place and
time.
November 2005
Letter Post Guide
15
L3.2.9 – The Express Post interstate network
The table shows the places and postcodes in the Express Post interstate network.
State or Territory
ACT
NSW
Victoria
City or district
Postcodes
Canberra CBD
2600–2601
Canberra suburbs
0200-0250; 2602–2639; 2900–2920
Sydney CBD
1000-1299; 2000–2009
Sydney suburbs
Gosford
1000-1207; 1209-1214; 1241-1920;
2004–2249; 2555–2574; 2740–2786
2250–2265
Newcastle
2280–2300; 2302–2310
Tweed Heads/Murwillumbah
2484–2490
Wollongong
2500–2530
Melbourne CBD
3000–3010; 8000-8010
Melbourne suburbs
3011–3210; 3335-3338; 3340#; 34273429; 3750#-3755#; 3757#; 3765-3767;
3782; 3785-3796; 3800-3806; 3810#;
3910-3915; 3930-3934; 3975-3977#;
8011-8899
3211–3220
Geelong
La Trobe Valley
3825; 3840–3844
Queensland
Brisbane CBD
4000–4004
South Australia
Brisbane suburbs
Gold Coast
Booval/Ipswich
Toowoomba
Strathpine/Caboolture
Sunshine Coast
Maryborough City
Hervey Bay City
Bundaberg City
Adelaide CBD
4005–4209
4210–4299; 9726; 9728; 9729
4300–4305
4350; 4352+
4500–4510; 4520
4550–4601
4650#
4655#
4670#
5000–5005; 5800-5879
Adelaide suburbs
5006–5199; 5942; 5950
Western Australia
Perth CBD
6000–6005; 6800-6899 for delivery only
to other CBD State postcodes in this
table
Tasmania
Hobart CBD
7000–7003
Hobart suburbs
7004–7019; 7050–7053; 7055; 7892
Launceston CBD
7250
Northern Tasmania
7248–7249; 7251-7325
+ Service guaranteed to mail centre post office boxes only
# Service guaranteed in townships only
L3.2.10 – The Express Post intrastate networks
Within each State, Express Post provides guaranteed next-business-day delivery between the primary
metropolitan area of the capital and main provincial centres. The Express Post intrastate networks of
Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania also link provincial centres with each other. Ask at your local
post office for the Express Post service it can provide or call 13 13 18.
November 2005
16
Letter Post Guide
L3.3 – Registered Post
This section describes the Registered Post service. The service provides:
♦ unique identification number for each Registered Post article
♦ proof of posting when Registered Post articles are lodged over the counter
♦ a signed and dated record of delivery
♦ free insurance cover against loss or damage to $100, provided proof of posting exists and the
article conforms to the conditions of insurance contained in the General Post Guide (8837578)
♦ optionally, prepaid Registered Post envelopes inclusive of registration fee and postage to
anywhere in Australia.
Post charges
Registered Post post charges are in the Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L3.3.1 – Supplementary services and service combinations
The table shows those Letter Post services that you may use as a supplement to Registered Post or in
combination with Registered Post.
Service
For more information, refer to…
Prepaid envelopes
Insurance cover to $5000
Delivery confirmation
Person-to-person delivery
Local Delivery
L3.3.7 – Registered Post prepaid envelopes
L4.1 – Insurance
L4.2 – Delivery confirmation
L4.3 – Person-to-person delivery
L6.2 – Local Delivery Service to country areas
L3.3.2 – Articles that you should always send by Registered Post
You should always send the following articles by Registered Post, as Australia Post accepts no liability
in any other Letter Post service.
♦ Jewellery
♦ Negotiable securities
♦ Non-negotiable instruments ♦ Precious stones
such as passports, wills, or ♦ Valuable items of any nature.
title deeds
Non-negotiable instruments – limit of cover
Australia Post limits the document reconstruction costs of lost or damaged non-negotiable
instruments to $100.
Bank notes, Currency notes and Coins
Australia Post accepts in the Registered Post bank notes, currency notes and coins that are legal
tender in the country of origin up to a value of $A200. However, Australia Post accepts no liability
for the loss of or damage to any such notes in the mail.
Note: Australian notes, of whatever age, currency or denomination, are legal tender in Australia.
L3.3.3 – Articles not accepted in Registered Post
Australia Post does not accept an article in the Registered Post if:
♦ the envelope is not in sound condition
♦ the envelope is not securely sealed
♦ the envelope bears the appearance of having been opened and resealed
♦ the address is written in pencil or any erasable medium
♦ the addressee is a set of initials, an acronym or a codename, unless the address also contains a
‘care of’ named addressee.
L3.3.4 – Proof of posting
Proof of posting is necessary to claim insurance in the case of total loss of a Registered Post article.
To obtain proof of posting, you must lodge the Registered Post article over the counter at any office
of Australia Post. You receive a postmarked receipt that you should retain.
If you do not require proof of posting, you may lodge a Registered Post article in a street post box.
L3.3.5 – Proof of delivery
The person accepting delivery of a Registered Post article signs a record of delivery. The delivery
office retains this record for 12 months. For details of delivery conditions, refer to Section 4 of
General Post Guide (8837578).
November 2005
Letter Post Guide
17
L3.3.6 – Registered Post lodgement document
You may send individual Registered Post Letters by completing a Registered Post lodgement
document and receiving a single Registered Post label to affix to an envelope of your choice. The
price of the label covers only the registration fee. Refer to Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L3.3.7 – Registered Post prepaid envelopes
The price of a Registered Post prepaid envelope includes the registration fee and the postage to
anywhere in Australia. The following Registered Post prepaid envelopes are available. The second
dimension is the opening.
Envelope
Dimensions
Maximum
Small
130 mm × 240 mm
250 gm
Designed to enclose
a DL envelope
353 mm × 250 mm
500 gm
Weight
Large
Maximum
Unit of sale
Thickness
5 mm
Single envelope
Packs of 10
20 mm
Single envelope
Pack of 10
Prices depend on the quantity purchased. Refer to Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L3.3.8 – Registered Post prepaid labels
Registered Post prepaid labels are available in boxes of 50 labels. You can affix a Registered Post
label to a Small Letter or Large Letter envelope of your choice. The price of the label covers only
the registration fee and does not include postage. Refer to Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L3.3.9 – Registered Post imprint
Customers may print their own
envelopes containing a Registered Post
imprint and a common identification
number. The imprint must conform to
the minimum size and colour
specifications in the illustration.
38 mm
7 mm
15 mm
PMS186
PMS151
Identification number
Customers should apply to the Australia
Identification number
Post Sales and Marketing Department in
their State for the single identification
number. This identification number applies to all Registered Post Letters in the one lodgement, on
condition that no two Letters in the lodgement have the same addressee.
Conditions of lodgement
Customers must lodge Registered Post Letters bearing a Registered Post imprint:
♦ over the counter at an office of Australia Post
♦ with Small Letters in separate bundles from Large Letters
♦ with Large Letters in bundles of the same State of addressee
♦ with Large Letters in bundles of the same weight category – that is:
– up to 125 g
– over 125 g up to 250 g
– over 250 g up to 500 g.
Bulk lodgement receipt
The lodgement receipt for Registered Post imprint lodgements shows only the total number of
Letters in the lodgement and the common identification number.
L3.3.10 – Enquiries
You can make enquiries at your local post office about the delivery of a Registered Post Letter or
about loss of or damage to its contents within 6 months of lodging the Letter. You must be able to
quote the Registered Post identification number and produce the lodgement receipt.
November 2005
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Letter Post Guide
SECTION 4 – SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES
This section describes those services that are available only as a supplement to Registered Post.
L4.1 – Insurance to $5000
L4.1.1 – Availability
Insurance cover up to $5000 is available only as a supplement to letters forwarded by Registered Post.
The standard Registered Post service includes insurance cover to $100 as part of the registration fee.
For the additional fee payable, refer to Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L4.1.2 – Eligibility
To be eligible for additional insurance the article must conform to the conditions of insurance
contained in Section 6 of General Post Guide (8837578). This includes the definition of adequate
packing.
To be eligible for an insurance claim for total loss of an article, you must provide proof of posting.
See L3.3.4 – Proof of posting.
L4.1.3 – How to purchase insurance cover to $5000
To purchase insurance cover up to $5000, you must lodge the article over the counter at an office of
Australia Post and complete a Registered Post lodgement document. The lodgement document
records a description of the contents of the article and the level of insurance cover required.
L4.2 – Delivery Confirmation
L4.2.1 – Availability
The Delivery Confirmation service is available only as a supplement to letters forwarded by
Registered Post.
L4.2.2 – Benefits
Delivery Confirmation provides you with a card, signed by the person who accepted the Registered
Post Letter and postmarked by the delivery office. The standard Registered Post service includes
only a record of delivery that the delivery office retains for 12 months.
For the additional fee payable, refer to Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L4.2.3 – How Delivery Confirmation works
To purchase the Delivery Confirmation service, you must lodge a Registered Post Letter over the
counter at an office of Australia Post. You complete your own address details on a Delivery
Confirmation Card provided by Australia Post.
The card accompanies the Registered Post Letter to the Australia Post delivery office. The
assessment of post charges does not include the weight of the Delivery Confirmation Card.
The Australia Post delivery office:
♦ obtains the signature of the person who accepts delivery on the Delivery Confirmation Card
♦ postmarks the card to confirm the date of delivery
♦ returns the card to you in the Ordinary Post.
November 2005
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19
L4.3 – Person-to-Person delivery
L4.3.1 – Availability
The Person-to-Person delivery service is available only as a supplement to Registered Post.
L4.3.2 – Benefits
Person-to-Person delivery ensures that Australia Post delivers a Registered Post Letter only to the
person named as the addressee.
For the additional fee payable, refer to Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L4.3.3 – How Person-to-Person Delivery works
To purchase the Person-to-Person Delivery service, you must lodge a Registered Post Letter over the
counter at an office of Australia Post. Australia Post affixes a Person-to-Person Label to the Letter.
The Australia Post delivery office deliver only to the person named as the addressee. If the delivery
officer does not know the addressee personally, the delivery officer asks for proof of identity in one
of the following forms:
♦ a current valid driving licence
♦ a current valid credit card
♦ a current valid passport.
L4.3.4 – Addressee’s nominated alternative
A person may request that another person can receive their Person-to-Person deliveries. The request
must be in writing, state the reason for the request, and must contain the usual handwritten signatures
of both the person making the request and the person nominated as the alternative. If Australia Post
approves the request, the nominated alternative person may receive subsequent Person-to-Person
deliveries on the addressee’s behalf. The approval does not apply to Letters that Australia Post has
already attempted to deliver before the date of the approval.
November 2005
20
Letter Post Guide
SECTION 5 – SPECIAL SERVICES
L5.1 – Articles for the blind
Subject to the conditions below, certain Letters for
the blind attract concessional rates in the Ordinary
Post. Refer to Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L5.1.1 – Eligible contents
The following items are eligible in Ordinary Post
Letters as articles for the blind:
♦ correspondence, documents or literature wholly
written in embossed characters as used by the
blind – that is, Braille or Moon
♦ an aid for the teaching of Braille to the blind
♦ a plate for embossing literature for the blind
♦ special paper intended solely for the blind, on
condition that any communication on the paper
is wholly in Braille or Moon
♦ any form of speech recording for the use of the
blind.
A Letter that contains any other item not in this list is
not eligible for the concessional rate.
8835189
L5.1.2 – Eligible participants
To attract the concessional rate, either the sender or
the addressee of an article for the blind must be:
♦ a blind person, or
♦ an institution or organisation recognised by Australia Post as an institution or organisation
which is both organised and operated for the primary purpose of serving the needs of the blind.
Refer to L5.1.4 – Recognised institutions and organisations.
L5.1.3 – Make-up conditions
To attract the concessional rate, letters containing articles for the blind must:
♦ comply with the dimensions and weight of a letter as defined in L2.2 – Small Letter and L2.3 –
Large Letter
♦ be in an unsealed envelope or cover
♦ show the name and address of the sender on the outside of the envelope or cover
♦ bear the Articles for the Blind Label (8835189) as illustrated, or the words MATERIAL FOR THE
USE OF THE BLIND (or similar) in a prominent position
♦ contain only eligible contents as defined in L5.1.1 – Eligible contents.
L5.1.4 – Recognised institutions and organisations
Australia Post recognises the following organisations and institutions as eligible participants.
New South Wales and ACT
Association of Blind Citizens of NSW
Australian Capital Territory Blind
Bowlers Association
Canberra Blind Society Inc.
Guide Dog Association of NSW & ACT
Guide Dog Association of NSW & ACT
Guide Dog Association of NSW & ACT
Guide Dog Association of NSW & ACT
Guide Dog Association of NSW & ACT
PO Box 103
c/- Woden Valley Bowling Club
Irving Street
Griffen Centre, Canberra City
GPO Box 1188
PO Box 16
PO Box 9084
Suite 4 1 Duke Street
PO Box 2151
PO Box 2298
BURWOOD NSW 2134
PHILLIP NSW 2606
CANBERRA ACT 2601
WESTMEAD NSW 2145
DEAKIN ACT 2600
COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
DANGAR NSW 2309
ORANGE NSW 2800
continued…
November 2005
Letter Post Guide
21
L5.1.4 – Recognised institutions and organisations – continued
New South Wales and ACT – continued
Guide Dog Association of NSW & ACT PO Box 107
North Rocks Central School for Blind PO Box 33
Children
NSW Blinded Soldiers’ Association
c/- D Curtin
39 Boundary Street
Parents’ and Friends’ Association of
c/- Deaf and Blind Children’s
Deaf and Blind Children’s Centre
Centre
361 North Rocks Road
Retinitis Pigmentosa Society of NSW PO Box 339
Royal Blind Society of NSW
PO Box 4420
ACT & South East Regional Office
Royal Blind Society of NSW
PO Box 176
Central Coast Region
Royal Blind Society of NSW
10 Bathurst Road
Central West Regional Office
Royal Blind Society of NSW
PO Box 4049
Far North Coast
Royal Blind Society of NSW
PO Box 176
Head Office
Royal Blind Society of NSW
PO Box 1624
New England Office
Royal Blind Society of NSW
PO Box 1401
North Coast Office
Royal Blind Society of NSW
63 Laman Street
Northern Region
Royal Blind Society of NSW
PO Box 1712
Northern Region
Royal Blind Society of NSW
PO Box 1784
Orana Office
Royal Blind Society of NSW
Shop 8
South Coast Office
Air Road Tavern Centre
Mirrabooka Avenue
Royal Blind Society of NSW
PO Box 181
Southern Region
Royal Blind Society of NSW
PO Box 842
Southern Regional Office
St Edmunds School and Residence of 60 Burns Road
Blind and Visually Handicapped
Students
St Lucys School for Blind Girls
PO Box 189
MILSONS POINT NSW 2061
CARLINGFORD NSW 2118
ROSEVILLE NSW 2069
NORTH ROCKS NSW 2151
AVALON BEACH NSW 2107
KINGSTON NSW 2604
GOSFORD NSW 2250
ORANGE NSW 2800
GOONELLABAH NSW 2480
BURWOOD NSW 2134
ARMIDALE NSW 2350
COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
NEWCASTLE NSW 2300
TAMWORTH NSW 2340
DUBBO NSW 2830
MORUYA NSW 2537
WOLLONGONG EAST
NSW 2520
WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650
WAHROONGA NSW 2076
WAHROONGA NSW 2076
Victoria
Blinded Soldiers of St Dunstan’s Aust
Victorian Branch
c/- C King
14 McBride Crescent
SEAFORD VIC 3198
Braille and Talking Book Library
Christian Blind Mission International
Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School
Mirridong Home for the Blind
51 Commercial Road
1245 Burke Road
14 Thanet Street
McIvor Road
SOUTH YARRA VIC 3141
KEW VIC 3101
MALVERN VIC 3144
BENDIGO VIC 3550
continued…
November 2005
22
Letter Post Guide
L5.1.4 – Recognised institutions and organisations – continued
Victoria – continued
National Federation of Blind Citizens
Print-Handicapped Project
Warrnambool Institute of Advanced
Education
Retinitis Pigmentosa Society of
Victoria
Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind
Association of Australia
Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind
St Paul’s School for the Blind and
Visually Handicapped
Victorian Blinded Soldiers’ Association
Villa Madonna Nursing Home
Villa Maria Society for the Blind
Villa O’Neill Nursing Home for the
Blind
Vision Australia
Vision Australia
Vision Australia
Kelaston Nursing Home and
Community Day Centre
Visiting Teacher Service for Visually
Impaired Children
45 Waverley Road
Princes Highway
MALVERN EAST VIC 3145
46a Oxley Road
HAWTHORN VIC 3122
Chandler Highway
KEW VIC 3101
557 St Kilda Road
3 Fernhurst Grove
MELBOURNE VIC 3004
c/- C. King
14 McBride Crescent
310 High Street
355 Stud Road
101 Lewisham Road
SEAFORD VIC 3198
7 Mair Street
H.M. Lightfoot Centre
454 Glenferrie Road
PO Box 169
BRIGHTON BEACH VIC 3186
9 Marshall Avenue
KEW VIC 3101
81 Stephens Road
12 Sunbury Street
PO Box 3
SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101
569 Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd
WISHART QLD 4122
139 Wharf Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000
25 Salisbury Street
BURANDA QLD 4102
1/20 Lorne Street
ALDERLEY QLD 4051
507 Ipswich Road
9 Gowrie Street
ANNERLEY QLD 4103
247 Vulture Street
SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101
Kent Street
PO Box 582
ANNERLEY QLD 4103
Kent Street
ANNERLEY QLD 4103
12 Hubert Street
WOOLLOONGABBA QLD 4102
WARRNAMBOOL VIC 3280
KEW VIC 3101
WINDSOR VIC 3181
WANTIRNA SOUTH VIC 3152
PRAHRAN VIC 3181
KOOYONG VIC 3144
WENDOUREE VIC 3355
Queensland
Blind Hostel
Blinded Soldiers’ Association
Cairns and District Blind and Visually
Handicapped Association
Christian Blind Fellowship of
Queensland
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
of Queensland
Narbethong School for Visually
Handicapped
Queensland Blind Bowlers Association
Incorporated
Queensland Braille Writing Association
Queensland Placement and Training
Centre for the Blind
Queensland Society of Blind Citizens
(and branches throughout the State)
Queensland Talking Book Library
Queensland Tape Service for the
Handicapped
The Queensland Blind Industrial
Centre
Welfare Association for the Blind
November 2005
GEEBUNG QLD 4034
CAIRNS QLD 4870
ANNERLEY QLD 4103
SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101
Letter Post Guide
23
L5.1.4 – Recognised institutions and organisations – continued
South Australia and Northern Territory
Atrasound Incorporated
Unit 66 Langton Park, 125
Montacute Rd
Blind Welfare Association of SA Inc
1 Birman Avenue
Blinded Soldiers of St Dunstan’s Aust c/- M G Scott
SA Branch
85 Grant Avenue
Guide Dogs Association of SA and NT 251 Morphett Street
Guide Dogs Association – Darwin
Vickers Street
Royal Society for the Blind of SA Inc
GPO Box 1855
Townsend House
33 Pirie Street
Townsend House
24-28 King George Avenue
Townsend School for Visually
Smith Street
Impaired Children
CAMPBELLTOWN SA
5074
GILLES PLAINS SA 5086
TOORAK GARDENS SA 5065
ADELAIDE SA 5000
PARAP NT 0820
ADELAIDE SA 5001
ADELAIDE SA 5000
HOVE SA 5048
HOVE SA 5048
Western Australia
Blind Citizens WA
Blinded Soldiers of St Dunstan’s Aust
WA Branch
Royal Institute for the Blind
The Association for the Blind of WA
Inc
West Australian Blind Bowling
Association
Locked Bag 2
c/- F C Wooler
2 Rhagodia Court
134 Whatley Crescent
61 Kitchener Avenue
MAYLANDS WA 6931
11 Egerton Street
BECKINGHAM WA 6107
c/- E M Cox
200 Best Street
6 Leititia Street
164 Elizabeth Street
DEVONPORT TAS 7310
164 Elizabeth Street
NORTH HOBART TAS 7000
HEATHRIDGE WA 6027
MAYLANDS WA 6051
VICTORIA PARK WA 6101
Tasmania
Blinded Soldiers of St Dunstan’s Aust
Tasmanian Branch
Hear a Book Service Inc, Tasmania
Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind
Association of Tasmania
Royal Tasmanian Society for the Blind
and Deaf
Tasmanian Blind Sporting Club
c/- Mr A Parish
22 High Street
Tasmanian Braille Writers’ Association Lewis Street
NORTH HOBART TAS 7000
NORTH HOBART TAS 7000
BELLERIVE TAS 7018
NORTH HOBART TAS 7000
November 2005
24
Letter Post Guide
L5.2 – Unaddressed Mail Service (UMS)
The Unaddressed Mail Service (UMS) delivers unaddressed advertising items to delivery points and
letterboxes within a specified geographic area. It has the following benefits:
♦ articles need not be enveloped or wrapped
♦ no postage stamps are necessary
♦ no addressing is necessary
♦ mailings can be delivered to any geographic area
♦ significant reductions on normal postage
♦ the Reply Paid service can be used in combination with UMS
♦ special agreements and charges can be negotiated for non-standard service levels.
L.5.2.1 – UMS delivery points
UMS delivers to all private and/or business delivery points that do not bear the message
NO UNADDRESSED ADVERTISING MATERIAL or similar words.
Exceptionally, UMS delivers to all private and/or business delivery points, if the article is a
community notice lodged by or under the authority of:
♦ local, state, or federal governments or their agencies
♦ political organisations
♦ religious institutions
♦ educational institutions
♦ charitable bodies, including benevolent and welfare societies.
(Note: In Victoria due to Environment Protection Bill: - If a community notice from religious,
educational, charitable bodies, benevolent and welfare societies advertises goods or services,
regardless of whether the sale is for a charitable purpose, it will be treated as normal UMS, ie.
delivered to all delivery points other than “NO UNADDRESSED ADVERTISING MATERIAL”
or similar words).
L5.2.2 – Articles
UMS articles can be:
♦ up to 50 g in weight
♦ up to Large Letter size (see Section 2 for sizes)
♦ for delivery to a geographic area defined by a postcode/s
By special arrangement, UMS can also deliver:
♦ articles up to 250 g
♦ articles that exceed Large Letter size
♦ to a geographic area that forms part of a postcode area.
All articles in a single UMS lodgement must be:
♦ identical in size and weight
♦ include sufficient information for the recipient to identify the sender’s name and address
♦ lodged in bags or trays (supplied by Australia Post) that do not exceed 16 kg (including the
weight of the bag or tray)
L5.2.3 – Service combinations
You can use UMS in combination with the Reply Paid service. Contact Australia Post for more
information. Telephone 13 11 18 . No other services are available in combination with UMS.
L5.2.4 – Charges
UMS charges are available on application to the Australia Post Sales and Marketing Department in
your State capital city. Telephone 13 11 18 . You must pay all charges at the time of lodgement or
charge them to a charge account. Refer to L8.2 – Methods of payment of post charges.
L5.2.5 – Booking and Lodgement
The Australia Post Sales and Marketing Department in your State capital city can provide details of
the lodgement requirements and the number of delivery points. Telephone 13 11 18.
November 2005
Letter Post Guide
25
L5.3 – Reply Paid service
The Reply Paid service is available only to customers that have a Reply Paid Service Contract with
Australia Post. The Reply Paid service stimulates response to mailings or other forms of advertising
by allowing recipients to respond by mail, free of charge.
The Reply Paid service allows a customer to:
♦ enclose in a mail-out an approved Reply Paid letter that complies with Australia Post addressing
and formatting standards, including a printed barcode – refer to Section 2 for the definition of a
letter.
♦ invite readers, viewers or listeners to respond to a communication or advertisement by replying
to a Reply Paid address.
The customer pays only for those Reply Paid letters received.
L5.3.1 – Scope
The service described in this section applies only to Small Letters and Large Letters lodged in
Australia and addressed to an Australian Reply Paid address.
Refer to the Reply Paid Service Guide (8839109) for further details.
L5.3.2 – Responses to a common box or bag
Reply Paid customers who already have a common box or bag, may use it as the Reply Paid Address.
For example:
1312022222121130202111000001333333333330000303020313
National Media Group
Reply Paid 9999
IN YOUR CAPITAL CITY
Reply Paid responses addressed to a common box or bag must comply with the Reply Paid
addressing and formatting standards – see the Reply Paid Service Guide (8839109). Applicants for the
Reply Paid service who wish to use this feature and do not already have a common box or bag,
should apply for the common box or bag before they apply for a Reply Paid Service Contract.
L5.3.3 – Service combinations
Reply Paid customers may not combine any supplementary or special services with the Reply Paid
service. If they wish, respondents may choose Registered Post and any supplementary service and
pay the fees when they lodge a Reply Paid Response for return to the Reply Paid customer.
L5.3.4 – Application for a Reply Paid Service Contract
To apply for a Reply Paid Service Contract, complete the Reply Paid Application Form (8837249).
The form is available from and may be lodged at any office of Australia Post.
Acceptance procedure
When Australia Post accepts an application for a Reply Paid Service Contract, Australia Post:
♦ sends the customer an acceptance advice
♦ sends the customer artwork for the Small Letter and Large Letter sizes specified in the
application
♦ sends a copy of the application and artwork to the delivery office and the managing office, if
different, for reference.
Customers may request artwork in electronic format. Australia Post will provide this either by email
or on a 3.5" diskette provided by the customer.
November 2005
26
Letter Post Guide
Customer responsibility for final artwork
Reply Paid customers need to check the artwork provided by Australia Post to ensure that all the
customer details (excluding the barcode) are correct. The Reply Paid customer is responsible for all
artwork supplied to a printer of envelopes or postcards. The Reply Paid customer is responsible for
ensuring that this artwork meets Australia Post specifications for pre-printed Reply Paid responses –
see the Reply Paid Service Guide (8837249).
L5.3.5 – Charges and discounts
Under the terms of the Reply Paid Service Contract, a customer undertakes to pay the appropriate
charges for all Reply Paid Responses delivered. For the amounts charged, refer to the Post Charges
Booklet (8833665).
Charge collection
Reply Paid customers must have an Australia Post charge account, and pay the account in accordance
with the terms of the credit facility.
L5.3.6 – Obligations of a Reply Paid Customer
Obligation to pay
A Reply Paid customer must pay the postage and any appropriate charges, postage or fees for each
Response whether accepted or refused. Refer to L5.3.10 for the continuing obligation to pay after
cancellation of a Reply Paid Service Contract.
Prohibitions
A Reply Paid customer may not:
♦ issue Reply Paid Responses or make invitations to respond to a Reply Paid Address unless the
customer has a current Reply Paid Service Contract with Australia Post.
♦ allow a Reply Paid Response to be lodged in Australia for delivery outside Australia.
L5.3.7 – Customer Changes to the Reply Paid Response
Variation to name or address
A customer may apply in writing at any time to vary the name or address appearing in the Reply Paid
Response provided the proposed changes comply with this section of the Letter Post Guide.
Transfer of Reply Paid Service Contract
A customer may transfer the obligations under the Reply Paid Service Contract to another person or
organisation only with the prior written approval of Australia Post. Australia Post will deem the new
customer to have accepted all the conditions of the contract as issued to the relinquishing customer.
If the customer is a partnership and the partnership reconstitutes by the retirement or addition of
partners, Australia Post regards the reconstituted partnership as the customer. Australia Post deems
the reconstituted partnership to have accepted all the conditions of the contract as issued to the
original partnership.
L5.3.8 – Australia Post Changes to Reply Paid Layout
Australia Post reserves the right, at reasonable notice, to require a customer to change the design or
any other feature of a previously approved Reply Paid Response.
L5.3.9 – Cancellation of Contract
A Reply Paid customer may cancel the Reply Paid Service Contract by giving one month’s written
notice to Australia Post.
Australia Post may cancel the Reply Paid Service Contract by giving seven day’s written notice to the
customer if:
♦ the customer breaches or otherwise acts in a manner contrary to any of the Reply Paid Service
Contract terms and conditions, or
♦ the customer becomes or is in jeopardy of becoming insolvent, or
♦ the customer, being a company, passes a resolution or a court makes an order that the customer
be wound up, or
♦ a receiver or manager on behalf of a creditor is appointed to the customer, or circumstances
arise which entitles a court or creditor to appoint a receiver or manager to the customer.
When the Reply Paid Service Contract is no longer in force, the customer must cease to publish the
Reply Paid address and must cease issuing any pre-printed Reply Paid Responses.
November 2005
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L5.3.10 – Responses lodged after cancellation of Reply Paid Service
Contract
If a Reply Paid Service Contract is cancelled, the customer is liable to pay Australia Post any charges,
postage or fees for Reply Paid Responses returned after the cancellation of the Contract.
L5.3.11 – Reply Paid name and address
A Reply Paid Response must specify the name or business name of the Reply Paid customer and a
bona fide address of:
♦ the customer, or
♦ an authorised agent of the customer, or
♦ any other person who has provided written consent.
Each Reply Paid Service Contract must specify only one name and one address, except as below.
Multiple names – single address
Responses may contain different names at one address if each name is:
♦ the registered name of a business carried out at that address by the Reply Paid customer, or
♦ the name of a company, partnership or association of which the Reply Paid customer is an
employee or agent, and for which the Reply Paid customer has reason to receive Reply Paid
articles at that address.
PO Box addresses and street addresses
If the Reply Paid customer is a private box holder, the Delivery Address for Reply Paid should be the
box address not the street address.
Multiple Responses per customer
A Reply Paid Response is the letter that a customer produces that contains the Reply Paid address.
A customer may generate different Reply Paid Responses to the same delivery address to suit
different business purposes. The illustration shows two examples of Reply Paid Responses generated
under the same Reply Paid Service Contract.
In the two Responses, the delivery address is the same. However, the first lines of the Reply Paid
address differ. Customers can easily sort Reply Paid Responses to the appropriate business area.
L5.3.12 – Standards for Reply Paid Responses
Hand-addressed Reply Paid Responses
Promotional material that invites respondents to hand write the Reply Paid Address must display the
Reply Paid Address in the same format as the pre-printed Reply Paid Address, excluding the barcode.
The promotional material must ask respondents to:
♦ use the Reply Paid Address displayed in the promotional material
♦ use envelopes pre-printed with Postcode Squares.
November 2005
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Letter Post Guide
Pre-printed Reply Paid Responses
All pre-printed Reply Paid Responses must comply with the requirements in the table below, which
also shows references to the appropriate specifications.
Requirement
All printing in black, except customer’s
logos or messages in the permitted areas.
Minimum size of 90 mm X 145 mm.
For Small Letter envelopes or postcards,
conforms to the Small Letter size and
oblong shape limits.
For envelopes, conforms to the Reply
Paid envelope specification
For postcards, conforms to the Reply
Paid postcard specification
Reference to specification
L2.2 – Small Letter, subject to minimum size
requirement in line above
L9.1 – Envelopes, excluding L9.1.7 and L9.1.11
L9.2 – Postcards, excluding L9.2.3, L9.2.6 and
L9.2.7
If a Reply Paid article fails to meet any of these requirements, Australia Post may ask the customer to
correct the error. If the customer fails to correct the error, Australia Post may cancel the Reply Paid
service – see L5.3.9.
Machine readability testing
Reply Paid applicants, customers and Australia Post representatives may request a test to determine
the suitability for machine processing of a pre-printed Reply Paid Response article. This tests covers:
♦ envelope or postcard colour, patterns and paper quality
♦ positioning of advertising material
♦ window panel quality and enclosure colour and patterns
♦ barcode components and readability.
L5.3.13 – Enquiries
For assistance or more information on the Reply Paid service, call Australia Post on:
♦ 13 11 18 (NSW, ACT, VIC, SA, NT)
♦ 13 13 18 (QLD, WA, TAS).
November 2005
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SECTION 6 – BULK LETTER SERVICES
L6.1 –Bulk letter sizes and weights
L6.1.1 – PreSort Letter, Clean Mail and Local Delivery services
The table below shows the size categories and the maximum in width, length, thickness and weight
applicable to Bulk letter services.
Small Letter
Maximum Maximum Maximum Maximum Applicable Services
width
length
thickness weight
130 mm
240 mm
5 mm
125 grams PreSort, Clean, Local
Small Plus
162 mm
240 mm
5 mm
125 grams PreSort, Clean
Medium Letter
180 mm
260 mm
20 mm
250 grams PreSort, Clean, Local
Large Letter
260 mm
360 mm
20 mm
500 grams PreSort, Clean, Local
Letter size
L6.1.2 – Print Post
The Print Post service uses three Article Size and Weight Categories
Small
Maximum Maximum Maximum Maximum
width
length
thickness weight
130 mm
240 mm
5 mm
250 grams
Large
260 mm
360 mm
20 mm
500 grams
Other
260 mm
360 mm
20 mm
1 kilo
Letter size
L6.1.3 – Recommended envelope sizes
Australia Post encourages the use of the following seven envelope sizes, as these lead to quick and
efficient mail sorting.
Small Letter
DL
110 mm × 220 mm
Small Letter
C6
114 mm × 162 mm
Small Plus
C5
162 mm × 229 mm
Medium Letter
B5
176 mm × 250 mm
Large Letter
C4
229 mm × 324 mm
Large Letter
B4
250 mm × 353 mm
November 2005
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Letter Post Guide
L6.2 – Local Delivery service to country areas
The Local Delivery service benefits community groups and small businesses in country areas. It
provides them with lower postage charges for Bulk Letters that they lodge over the counter at the
office of delivery.
A user of the Local Delivery service must:
♦ lodge only at an office of delivery within a postcode area defined in L6.2.2, and
♦ reside or carry on business in a postcode area serviced by the office of delivery, or
♦ reside or carry on business in a postcode area that adjoins a postcode area serviced by the office
of delivery.
All Letters in a Local Delivery service lodgement must show the sender’s address.
Post charges
Post charges for the Local Delivery service are in the Post Charges Booklet (8833665). The charges
are assessed on the Letter sizes in L6.1 – Bulk Letter sizes and weights.
L6.2.1 – Eligibility for the use of the Local Delivery service
For the purposes of the Local Delivery service, a small community is one with fewer than 1000
postal delivery points.
The table shows the rules that determine if a lodgement is eligible to use the Local Delivery service.
Is the lodgement at the office of delivery for all of the
lodgement?
YES
NO
If other conditions are
met, direct the customer
to the office of delivery
Is the office of delivery in a postcode area defined in L6.2.2?
YES
NO
Does the lodgement contain at least 50 letters?
Or does it contain at least 10 letters in a small community?
YES
NO
Are all the Letters from the same sender whose address is on
the outside of each envelope?
YES
NO
Is the sender’s address in a postcode area serviced by the
office of delivery?
Or is it in a postcode area that adjoins those postcode areas?
YES
NO
The lodgement is eligible
for the Local Delivery
service.
The lodgement is not
eligible for the Local
Delivery service.
Aggregation
Australia Post prohibits the aggregation of mailings from different senders to achieve the minimum
quantity.
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L6.2.2 – Postcode areas eligible for the Local Delivery service
The Local Delivery service operates only in the postcode areas shown.
0835-0899
1970-1999
2240-2490
2500-2554
2575-2599
2640-2739
2787-2880
2890-2899
3211-3334
3342-3424
3444-3749
3812-3909
3921-3925
3945-3971
3979
3984-3999
4210-4499
4550-4899
5200-5749
6215-6507
6509-6646
6700-6799
7200-7499
7900-7999
9597-9599
9700-9799
9880-9999
L6.2.3 – Supplementary services and service combinations
The table shows those Letter Post services that you may use as a supplement to the Local Delivery
service or in combination with it on payment of the appropriate fee.
Service
For more information, refer to…
Registered Post
Insurance cover to $5000
Delivery confirmation
Person-to-person delivery
L3.3 – Registered Post
L4.1 – Insurance
L4.2 – Delivery confirmation
L4.3 – Person-to-person delivery
L6.2.4 – Lodgement at the office of delivery
Local Delivery lodgements MUST be at the counter of the office from which the letters will
be delivered.
Not all offices are delivery offices. The Postal Manager of any office can advise senders of the
location of the office that delivers to the local postcode area.
Australia Post considers that lodgement is at the office of delivery if:
♦ a letter is addressed to a post office box, a locked bag or for counter delivery at the office where
it is lodged, even if that office is not the delivery office for the postcode area
♦ the lodgement is at an office designated by a General Manager of Australia Post for the purpose
of receiving Local Delivery lodgements
♦ the lodgement is at an office that controls a delivery depot that has no counter lodgement
facilities
♦ the lodgement is brought by private mail bag to the office of delivery
♦ the sender delivers the lodgement to a mail contractor who, in the course of his or her duties,
hands it in at the office of delivery.
November 2005
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Letter Post Guide
6.3 – Print Post
The Print Post service delivers addressed, approved periodicals and similar publications throughout
Australia. It provides secure and reliable delivery to virtually every address throughout Australia with
special value-added benefits exclusive to Australia Post. These include:
♦ access to private box addresses
♦ redirection arrangements
♦ return of undeliverable articles
♦ virtually no restrictions on style and content, and flexible arrangements for supplements that
provide revenue opportunities for publishers
♦ no registration or lodgement fee
♦ large discounts for presorting done by the mailer and reduced charges for local lodgement
♦ a wide range of lodgement points to suit customers’ needs
♦ delivery by postal delivery officers, Monday to Friday, with Letters and other mail
♦ the same delivery timetable as for Letters by ordinary post, but allowing for surface not air
carriage – this means next-business-day delivery within metropolitan areas of capital cities,
including Canberra and Darwin, or within the same city, town or environs
♦ the Reply Paid service can be used in conjunction with Print Post.
Method of transport
Australia Post normally uses surface carriage for Print Post articles. A Print Post air service is
available at a competitive premium, with lodgement arranged to allow for up-lift by noon.
More details
Full details of the Print Post service, including Terms and Conditions, eligibility conditions for
supplements, and instructions for the preparation and lodgement of articles, are in the Guide to Print
Post (8834059), available at post offices and business centres.
L6.3.1 – Publications eligible for the Print Post service
To be eligible for Print Post, a publication must:
♦ be approved by Australia Post for carriage by Print Post, and issued with a Print Post
Publication Number
♦ comply with the conditions in this section and the Guide to Print Post (8834059).
♦ consist of soft-covered printed matter including electromagnetic cassette or other electronic
media
♦ be a continuing periodical with a fixed title
♦ be published at least twice each calendar year.
In addition, each copy of an issue, including any supplements must:
♦ be eligible for carriage by post
♦ not be, or contain, a Letter, the carriage of which is reserved to Australia Post by the Australian
Postal Corporation Act 1989.
♦ contain identical contents within each issue, except that copies delivered to different States or
regions may contain different advertising content.
Print Post users may include supplements with an issue provided they meet all other conditions and
their intent is not to use Print Post as a means of delivering goods on a commercial or regular basis.
L6.3.2 – Who may use Print Post?
The following may lodge approved publications in the Print Post service:
♦ the publishers or distributors of the approved publication
♦ newsagents and news vendors.
L6.3.3 – Size and weight of Print Post articles
Print Post articles must be flat and rectangular and not exceed the size of a Large Letter. Refer to
L2.3 – Large Letter. No article may exceed one kilogram in weight.
Non-acceptance of odd shaped articles
The Australia Post postal officer at the lodgement point may refuse to accept a Print Post lodgement
if he or she deems the articles will incur extra handling.
Parcel Post
Australia Post may accept articles that do not conform to Print Post size categories and weight steps
requirements at Parcel Post charges and conditions.
November 2005
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L6.3.4 – Basis for Print Post charges
Each Print Post lodgement must include an accurately completed mailing statement. Australia Post
may open samples of the lodgement to ensure that the contents comply with the prescribed
conditions.
The tables show the basis for Print Post charges, depending on the number of articles in each
lodgement and the delivery requirements. For the sizes and weights used to assess charges, refer to
L6.1 – Bulk Letter sizes and weights. For details of the actual charges, refer to the Post Charges
Booklet (8833665).
Lodgement at a delivery office – all articles for delivery from that office
Are there 50 or more articles of the same weight in the
lodgement?
YES
NO
Minimum charge is for
50 articles at the Print
Post local delivery rate.
No PreSort discount.
Charge at the Print Post
local delivery rate.
No PreSort discount.
Lodgement at a delivery office – part delivery from that office and part delivery from other
offices
Are there 100 or more articles of the same weight in the
lodgement?
Is the article for delivery to a postcode
area that this office services?
Charge at the Print Post
local delivery rate.
No PreSort discount.
YES
YES
NO
Charge the appropriate
rate for each article,
plus the difference
between 100 and the
number lodged at the
Same-State metro rate.
NO
Charge the appropriate Print
Post Same-State or
Other-State rate.
Lodgement at a Mail Centre
Are there 100 or more articles of the same weight in the
lodgement?
Is the article for delivery to a postcode
area that this Mail Centre services?
Charge at the Print Post
Mail Centre rate.
YES
YES
NO
NO
Charge the appropriate
rate for each article,
plus the difference
between 100 and the
number lodged at the
Same-State metro rate.
Charge the appropriate Print
Post Same-State or
Other-State rate.
November 2005
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Letter Post Guide
L6.3.5 – Application for a Print Post Publication Number
Most offices of Australia Post can process an application for a Print Post Publication Number. The
application must:
♦ be on the application form provided by the processing office
♦ be signed by either the publisher or the distributor of the publication
♦ include a copy of the most recent issue of the publication, if one exists.
Publishers who receive a Print Post Publication Number before the first issue of the publication,
must send a copy of the first issue to the approving officer for confirmation.
The Print Post Publication Number needs no periodic renewal. A further application is necessary
only when information provided in the original application changes.
L6.3.6 – Cancellation of a Print Post Publication Number
Australia Post may give seven days’ written notice cancelling the approval to use the Print Post
service if the Publisher fails to observe or perform any term, covenant or obligation contained in the
Print Post Terms and Conditions.
Australia Post may, at its discretion and for any reason whatsoever, terminate the approval to use the
Print Post service upon six months notice in writing to the Publisher.
Notwithstanding revocation or termination of the Print Post approval, the Publisher shall be liable to
pay Australia Post any due postage.
L6.3.7 – Return to sender
Australia Post returns each undeliverable Print Post article to the sender by ordinary post. The
sender must pay the cost of return postage assessed at the ordinary post price. Published prices
appropriate to the size category and weight step apply.
November 2005
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L6.4 – PreSort Letter service
The PreSort Letter service is available to customers who lodge 300 or more letters of the same size
category and weight step. The service offers reduced postage charges to customers who:
♦ barcode and sort their mail into trays according to the Barcode Sort Plan (BSP) prior to
lodgement
♦ certify the use of current Address Matching Approval System (AMAS®) software including the
latest version of the Postal Address File (PAF®)
♦ address mail in accordance with Australia Post’s correct addressing standards – see PreSort
Service Guide for Letters (8833700)
♦ prepare mail to comply with all other mailing conditions.
The Barcode Sort Plan (BSP)
The BSP defines 54 sorting divisions. It is available on the Internet at auspost.com.au and is
contained in PreSort Service Guide for Letters (8833700) available from any office of Australia Post.
Postal Address File (PAF®)
PAF is a database containing all mailing addresses in Australia and their Delivery Point Identifiers
(DPIDs). Australia Post issues PAF quarterly to certified AMAS vendors.
Delivery Point Identifier (DPID®)
Each DPID is a unique eight-digit number that represents a physical delivery address. The DPID
forms part of the barcode used to sort mail.
Address Matching Approval System (AMAS®)
AMAS is a software approval program that ensures the quality of address data. It sets a standard for
address matching software and tests the software’s ability to assign a correct unique DPID to each
address in a customer’s database. AMAS is available from certified AMAS software vendors.
Access to the PreSort Letter service is conditional upon customers demonstrating that they have used
current AMAS certified software with the latest version of PAF.
L6.4.1 – Scope
The PreSort Letter service is available only for lodgement of Letters up to 500 g. All Letters must be
for delivery within Australia or its Territories.
L6.4.2 – Delivery standards
Two delivery standards are available:
♦ Regular Delivery is Australia Post’s normal delivery service for Letters – see – L3.1.2
♦ Off Peak Delivery is a service for letters that are not urgent. It offers reduced postage charges,
but adds up to three working days to the Regular Delivery schedule, as shown below.
If lodged for delivery…
within the metropolitan area of
the same State capital city
within the same regional city or
town and environs
between the metropolitan areas
of different State capital cities
between the metropolitan area
of a State capital city and a
country location
between country locations
the Off Peak delivery day
within the same State is…
fourth business day after
lodgement day
fourth business day after
lodgement day
the Off Peak delivery day
to another State is…
not applicable
fifth business day after
lodgement day
fourth business day after
lodgement day only for towns
in different States that share a
State boundary – such as
Albury/Wodonga or
Canberra/Queanbeyan
fifth business day after
lodgement day
sixth business day after
lodgement day
fifth business day after
lodgement day
seventh business day after
lodgement day
not applicable
November 2005
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Letter Post Guide
L6.4.3 – Supplementary services
The Charity Mail and the Registered Post services are available with the PreSort Letter service. Refer
to L3.3 Registered Post and L6.5 Charity Mail.
L6.4.4 – PreSort Letter specifications and post charges
For information on the size and weight specifications used to assess PreSort Letter prices, refer to
L6.1 – Bulk Letter sizes and weights. For PreSort Letter service post charges, refer to the Post
Charges Booklet (8833665).
L6.4.5 – Mandatory addressing standards
Addressing standards of Australia Post are mandatory in the PreSort Letter service. Refer to PreSort
Service Guide for Letters (8833700). Australia Post may refuse a lodgement access to the PreSort
Letter service if letters in the lodgement do not comply with the addressing standards.
L6.4.6 – Lodgement conditions for PreSort Letters
The following conditions apply to all PreSort Letter lodgements.
Minimum lodgement quantities
The table below shows the minimum quantities for a PreSort Letter lodgement.
Size category
Minimum total lodgement in trays only
Small Letter
Small Plus
Medium Letter
Large Letter
300 letters
300 letter
300 letters of the same weight category
300 letters of the same weight category
More than one sender
Letters contained within a PreSort Letters lodgement may originate from more than one sender,
subject to the following conditions:
♦ Each lodgement contains a minimum of 10,000 letters of the same size category and weight step
♦ Each lodgement consists of letters of the same delivery standard (ie all regular or all Off Peak)
and same category (ie all with or without Charity Mail)
♦ All letters are metered at the applicable published rate.
Size categories and weight steps
All letters in a PreSort Letter lodgement must be of the same size categories and weight steps
category.
Refer to L6.1 – Bulk Letter sizes and weight steps and all letters faced in the one direction.
Mail presentation
Lodgement must be in trays. The contents and sorting requirements for each tray type is shown
below.
Tray type
Contents of tray and sorting requirements
Barcode Direct Tray
300 Letters or 4 kg of Letter weight (excluding the tray weight)
all addressed to the same postcode range as defined in the
Barcode Sort Plan (BSP).
Letters all addressed to one of the following eight PreSort
Residue Tray destinations:
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Adelaide
Perth
Hobart
Canberra
Darwin
Letters to any destination in a lodgement with 2000 or fewer
residue letters in total should be presented in trays.
The tray must bear the State of Lodgement label
Residue Tray
More than 2,000
Residue Tray
2,000 or fewer
November 2005
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L6.4.6 – Lodgement conditions for PreSort Letters – continued
Combined lodgement
Australia Post will accept a lodgement containing both Barcoded and Unbarcoded Letters if:
♦ the lodgement contains a minimum of 300 barcoded letters of the same size category, weight
step and delivery standard, and
♦ all letters are from the same sender as shown by the return address, and
♦ the lodgement is supported with evidence from approved AMAS software if requested.
Tray Labels
Customers must label each tray. Use either Australia Post pre-printed tray labels or labels produced
by approved software. For more information on tray labelling, refer to the PreSort Service Guide for
Letters (8833700)
L6.4.7 – Lodgement approval for PreSort Letters
Customers who intend to lodge PreSort Letters must apply to use the service before they make the
initial lodgement. The Application for Lodgement of PreSort Letters (8835117) is available at any
office of Australia Post. On approval, customers can make PreSort Letter lodgements at a designated
lodgement facility.
Normally, Australia Post grants approval to lodge PreSort Letters only at Mail Centres or Business
Centres. Exceptionally, a Retail Area Manager may approve a PreSort Letter lodgement at a post
office. Australia Post reserves the right to vary the designated lodgement facility at any time.
Australia Post recommends that customers intending to lodge Barcoded Letters for the first time
submit sample Letters to Australia Post for testing of barcode accuracy and readability.
L6.4.8 – When to lodge PreSort Letters
Each designated lodgement facility publishes the business hours during which it accepts lodgements.
Advance notice for large lodgements
Customers who intend to submit 50,000 or more Letters in a single lodgement, should advise the
officer-in-charge of the designated lodgement facility no later than Friday of the week before the
lodgement.
L6.4.9 – How to lodge PreSort Letters
Customers can lodge their PreSort Letters using either the metered mail or the manifest option.
Metered mail
See Section 3 of General Post Guide for details of the postage meter service.
Each metered PreSort Letter lodgement must include a Meter Lodgement Document. The document
incorporates the AMAS certification.
Manifests
Each non-metered PreSort Letter lodgement must include a manifest. A manifest is a summary of
the contents of the lodgement. A copy of a sample manifest is in PreSort Service Guide to Letters
(8833700).
Each lodgement must also include a PreSort Letters Lodgement Document (8835114). The document
incorporates the AMAS certification.
November 2005
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Letter Post Guide
L6.4.10 – Conditions for same-State charges
A PreSort Letter attracts same-State charges when:
♦ the Letter is for delivery within the same State as the State of lodgement, as defined in the
Barcode Sort Plan (BSP)
♦ the lodgement is at the appropriate Mail Centre shown in the table, which depends on the
location of the return address shown on each letter in the lodgement. (Note: The term ‘Mail
Centre’ may include other facilities that Australia Post approves for the lodgement of PreSort
Letters.)
If the return address is…
Within the State of lodgement
and the lodgement is for
delivery …
within the State of lodgement
Outside the State of lodgement throughout the State of
lodgement
Outside the State of lodgement only within the areas serviced
by a particular approved Mail
Centre
then lodgement must be at…
an approved Mail Centre within
that State.
an approved metropolitan Mail
Centre within that State
or
an approved non-metropolitan
Mail Centre, only if the
customer or its mailing agent
prepared the mail at an address
in the area serviced by that Mail
Centre.
that particular approved Mail
Centre.
For example, if a Sydney customer uses a Melbourne mailing house to prepare and lodge its PreSort
Letters, the mailing house should seek approval to lodge the mail in Melbourne. Same-State charges
will apply to all letters addressed to Victoria.
If a lodgement does not meet the above conditions, then other-State charges apply.
L6.4.11– Interconnect option
Customers may arrange their own interstate transport to interconnect with Australia Post’s letter
service network at designated facilities in destination States. Customers need to complete an
Application for Lodgement of PreSort Letters (8835117) and nominate those Mail Centres where they
will make lodgements. On approval, customers may lodge letters at the designated Mail Centres.
Appropriate lodgement documentation must accompany each lodgement.
L6.4.12 – Further information
For more information on the PreSort Letter service and a copy of the PreSort Service Guide to
Letters (8833700), contact Australia Post on 13 13 18.
November 2005
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L6.5 – Charity Mail
The Charity Mail service is available for the postal distribution of personally addressed Small Letters,
lodged for delivery in Australia. Eligibility for access to Charity Mail is subject to the following
conditions.
L6.5.1 – Scope
The Charity Mail service is applicable only to Small Letters in the PreSort Letter service. Each
lodgement must contain at least 300 barcoded Small Letters.
L6.5.2 – Charges
Refer to Postal Charges Booklet (8833665) for the Charity Mail charges. You must pay all post charges at
the time of lodgement or charge them to an existing charge account. Refer to L8.2 – Methods of
Payment.
L6.5.3 –Approval to lodge Charity Mail
Use the Application for the Charity Mail Service form (8838713) to apply for Charity Mail
registration. This form is available from any Post Office.
The completed application must include
♦ a copy of your Australian Tax Office (ATO) endorsement as an Income Tax Exempt Charity
(ITEC)
♦ a list of all business operations that are covered under the ITEC endorsement.
Upon approval, Australia Post will issue a letter granting access to Charity Mail charges to the
organisation named in the ATO ITEC approval notification. All business activities conducted under
the same Australian Business Number (ABN) are eligible to access the Charity Mail service. The letter
will also provide an 8-digit approval (registration) number, which will need to be quoted for each
mailing.
L6.5.4 - Contents of letter
There are no content-based restrictions where the mailing is generated by an approved charity and
contains material solely from that charity. A charity may access Charity Mail prices for letters
containing contents such as:
♦ advertising/promotional material
♦ statements/invoices
♦ greeting cards, newsletters, acknowledgment letters, etc.
Mailings containing reference to, or material from other Organisations:
Many charities in acquiring new donors or soliciting donations will make reference to other
organisations. It is acceptable for a mailing from an approved charity to contain reference to or
material from another organisation, provided that:
♦ the reference to or material from another organisation supports the charitable purpose; and is;
♦ incidental to the main purpose of the mailing.
L6.5.5 – Conditions of Lodgement
When lodging letters under the Charity Mail service, you must:
♦ lodge at least 300 barcoded Small Letters
♦ ensure that each letter carries the 8-digit Registration number issued by Australia Post, printed
on the front or back of the envelope or above the address block
♦ ensure that all letters comply with the conditions that apply to the PreSort Letter Service
November 2005
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Letter Post Guide
L6.6 – Clean Mail
The Clean Mail service is a work share option for customers who choose to undertake no sorting, but
can present machine addressed letters of a standard suitable for processing by mechanised letter
sorting equipment.
The conditions for access to the Clean Mail Service are designed to ensure letters can be processed by
mechanised letter processing equipment.
L6.6.1 – Entry Requirement
The minimum entry requirement for Clean Mail is 300 letters per lodgement. Each lodgement must
consist of letters of the same size.
Each lodgement must originate from the same sender.
L6.6.2 – Exclusions
Articles that have an incorrect, corrupt, out of specification or illegible 4-State Barcode are not
eligible for access to the Clean Mail Service.
Additionally, plastic wrapped articles are not eligible for access to the Clean Mail Service.
L6.6.3 – Article Dimensions
The letter categories eligible for the Clean Mail Service are Small Letters and Small Plus Letters.
Maximum Weight
Minimum Size
Maximum Size
Maximum Thickness
Shape
Common Examples
Small Letters
125 g
88 x 138 mm
130 x 240 mm
5mm
Oblong=
DL (100 x 220 mm)
C6 (114 x 162 mm)
Small Plus Letters
125 g
88 x 138 mm
162 x 240 mm
5mm
Oblong=
C5 (162 x 229 mm)
=The length must be at least 1.414 times the width.
L6.6.4 – Delivery Timetable
The regular delivery standard will apply to the Clean Mail Service.
L6.6.5 – Supplementary Services
The Registered Post service can be used in conjunction with the Clean Mail Service.
L6.6.6 – Postage Meters
A postage meter may be used as a payment method for the Clean Mail Service.
The published Clean Mail price must be printed on the top right hand corner of the address side of
each letter. If a date is printed, it must be the date of lodgement.
For additional information on metering, and the postage rebate applicable to metered Clean Mail,
refer to the Conditions of use for Postage Meters and Franking Machines booklet (8833675).
L6.6.7 – Mail Piece Flexibility
Letters presented under the Clean Mail Service must be reasonably flexible to ensure that they can be
processed through high speed letter sorting equipment. Letters that are too rigid or stiff are ineligible
for the Clean Mail Service. Some examples of prohibited enclosures includes pencils, pens, audio
cassettes and compact disks enclosed in a hard case.
Where doubt exists regarding the flexibility of a mail piece, customers are requested to submit a
sample of letters for testing to determine suitability for machine processing. Full details are contained
in the Clean Mail Service Guide (8838878).
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L6.7 – Impact Mail
Impact Mail is a service offered by Australia Post for the delivery of unique shaped mail pieces.
L6.7.1 – Lodgement Requirements
The minimum lodgement quantity required to access the Impact Mail service is 300 articles per
lodgement.
Each lodgement must consist of articles of the same size category.
Each lodgement must originate from the same sender.
L6.7.2 – Delivery Standard
Impact Mail is delivered Monday to Friday, with letters and other mail. The delivery standard that
applies is the same as that for Print Post.
L6.7.3 – Size Categories
The size categories eligible for the Impact Mail Service are Small and Small Plus. Impact Mail may be
any shape, but must fit entirely within the following dimensions;
Maximum Weight
Minimum Size
Maximum Size
Maximum Thickness
Small
125 g
88 x 138 mm
130 x 240 mm
5 mm
Small Plus
125 g
162 x 240 mm
5 mm
L6.7.4 – Design Considerations
Australia Post recommends that consideration be given to the size of the letterbox apertures when
designing Impact Mail articles.
Items must not be made of a material likely to cause injury to people, damage other postal articles or
equipment. It is requested that items constructed of material other than card stock are submitted to
Australia Post for approval prior to lodgement.
When designing customised shapes please ensure a suitable surface area is provided to affix
redirection or Return-To-Sender stickers.
Some shapes are more susceptible to damage. Refer to the Impact Mail Service Guide (8839152) for
examples of suitable and not recommended shapes of Impact Mail articles
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Letter Post Guide
SECTION 7 – ELECTRONIC MAIL SERVICES
L7.1 – Introduction to Electronic Mail
L7.1.1 – General description of electronic mail services
Australia Post provides fast electronic document and message services. These include:
♦ L7.2 – EDI Post – a national mail production service for businesses sending large numbers of
items such as accounts, statements, direct mail.
♦ L7.3 – Lettergram – a service that prints messages on distinctive stationery and delivers to
practically anywhere in Australia. A Lettergram is also a powerful, effective business tool.
♦ L7.4 – FaxPost – a public access domestic and international facsimile service. Documents
lodged over the counter at any Australia Post outlet are delivered either to the recipient’s own
fax machine or to a fax machine at a postal authority for hard copy delivery to the recipient.
L7.1.2 – Eligibility
A document or message is eligible for transmission by Electronic Mail services if:
♦ the selected service is available at the destination
♦ the final lodgement time for a requested delivery standard has not passed
♦ the message contains no matter that could be regarded by a reasonable person as being
offensive or defamatory or could be used to menace or harass another person.
L7.1.3 – Non-liability of Australia Post
No action or proceeding can lie against Australia Post, its employees or agents in relation to:
♦ any defamation (whether civil or criminal) or infringement of copyright
♦ any loss or damage suffered, or that may be suffered, by a person because of any act or
omission (whether negligent or otherwise) by or on behalf of Australia Post, its employees or
agents in relation to the collection, lodgement, carriage or delivery of FaxPost, Lettergram or
EDI Post.
L7.1.4 – Charges
Charges for EDI Post and Lettergram services vary according to customer requirements. For more
information, please call 13 11 18.
FaxPost charges are in Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L7.2 – EDI Post
EDI Post facilitates the way businesses send mail, with significant savings of both time and money.
With EDI Post, you transmit bulk mail electronically from your computer to Australia Post for
processing, printing, enveloping and delivery.
This innovative service enables major mailers to reduce processing, handling and transport times,
improve cash flows and reduce costs by out-sourcing the production and mailing of statements,
accounts and direct mail to Australia Post.
L7.2.1 – EDI Post
EDI Post receives customers’ data in predefined formats and distributes it to a production site near
the delivery point. EDI Post production sites are strategically located for efficient access to the mail
network. High-speed printers produce customers’ documents, and advanced enveloping machines
prepare them for despatch. Additionally, EDI Post can fax the documents to selected recipients.
EDI Post can store paper and envelopes on behalf of customers and can insert additional material,
such as brochures, into envelopes.
EDI Post can also create digital images of the printed documents on CD for archiving or customer
service purposes.
Australia Post will tailor EDI Post to meet your particular requirements.
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L7.3 – Lettergram
L7.3.1 – Bulk Lettergrams
EDI Post Lettergram is a value-added service for EDI Post customers who wish to deliver an
important message to a large number (say, 200 or more) of their customers. Australia Post prints the
messages on the distinctive Lettergram stationery. Typical uses of this service include:
♦ reminder payment notices
♦ final notices
♦ utility service outage notifications.
The Lettergrams can contain bill payment barcodes, if required.
Australia Post processes the messages at a production site, prints them on Lettergram stationery and
despatches them directly into the Australia Post mail network. EDI Post Lettergrams receive next
day delivery to most metropolitan addresses, if lodgement times and delivery schedules allow this.
L7.3.2 – Lettergrams via PCs
Customers who have the necessary software from EDI Post can also send Lettergrams direct from
their own PCs. The software enables customers to lodge messages electronically with Australia Post.
Australia Post then routes the messages to a production site for printing on Lettergram stationery,
enveloping and despatch into the Australia Post mail network.
The service is appropriate for customers wishing to send the same message to up to 200 recipients at
a time.
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Letter Post Guide
L7.4 – FaxPost
FaxPost is a public access domestic and international facsimile service. Documents lodged over the
counter at any Australia Post outlet are delivered either to the recipient’s own fax machine or to a fax
machine at a postal authority for hard copy delivery to the recipient.
Our international fax and delivery network links customers to more than 40 countries – refer to
International Post Guide – as well as private fax machines anywhere in the world, provided IDD
access is available. Please note that Australia Post cannot guarantee delivery of messages through the
service of overseas postal authorities. In addition an overseas service or service option (such as
courier/express delivery) may have been cancelled and Australia Post not notified. Not all countries
have reciprocal services to Australia.
L7.4.1 –FaxPost definitions
PSTN
PSTN is the Public Switched Telecommunications Network that provides access to:
♦ Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) and local calls within Australia
♦ International Direct Dialling (IDD) for direct connection to international telephone numbers.
CCITT Group 3
CCITT Group 3 is the international standard for fax machines used by FaxPost.
Fax Centre
A Fax Centre is an office of Australia Post equipped with a facsimile machine and connected to the
PSTN facility.
Original document
An original document is a document accepted at an Australia Post outlet for facsimile transmission.
Facsimile document
A facsimile document is the reproduced copy of an original document after facsimile transmission.
L7.4.2 – Scope of FaxPost
FaxPost is available for document transmission only via PSTN.
It is not available for document transmission:
♦ to any mobile telephone served by either an Australian-based or an overseas-based network
♦ over any satellite telecommunications network – such as INMARSAT, which provides
telephone connection to ships at sea.
L7.4.3 – Maximum document size
FaxPost transmits documents up to B4 size – 250 mm × 353 mm.
L7.4.4 – Original document quality
The original document:
♦ must have a margin on all sides of at least 10 mm
♦ if a multi-page document, should have pages sequentially numbered
♦ must be capable of satisfactory reproduction – for example, white paper containing bold black
type or graphics, or handwriting and drawings in black ink.
Some colours (particularly some shades of blue) do not reproduce well. If Fax Centre staff have
doubts about the reproductive quality of a document, they should endorse the transmittal sheet
TRANSMITTED AT SENDER'S RISK, and ask the sender to sign the endorsement.
L7.4.5 – Document contents
Fax Centre staff may refuse a document for transmission if it contains material that a reasonable
person could regard as offensive or defamatory or as material that could be used to menace or harass
another person.
L7.4.6 – Over-the-counter lodgement
Senders can lodge an original document over the counter at any office of Australia Post. They must
accept the terms and conditions by completing a transmittal sheet, which the office transmits with
the message.
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L7.4.7 – Transmission options
A Fax Centre may transmit an original document:
♦ to an another Fax Centre for onward delivery to the addressee
♦ to a private CCITT Group 3 fax machine located anywhere in Australia and connected to
PSTN.
Transmissions to private fax machines
Australia Post reserves the right to refuse or discontinue further transmission attempts to a private
fax machine if:
♦ the destination facsimile machine is not accessible via the PSTN
♦ contact with the nominated number is not established after three dialling attempts
♦ connection to the nominated number cannot be maintained for long enough to transmit the
complete document
♦ the destination fax machine does not meet CCITT Group 3 standards.
L7.4.8 – Delivery options
The sender must nominate the method of delivery on the transmittal sheet at the time of lodging the
document. The delivery options include:
♦ over the counter to a recipient who provides suitable identification – if the transmittal sheet
includes a telephone number, the receiving Fax Centre notifies the recipient of the document's
arrival
♦ by post
♦ by whatever express delivery service is available at the destination
♦ by onward transmission to a private fax machine.
L7.4.9 – Payment options
The sender pays for the FaxPost service when Australia Post accepts the original document at the
counter:
♦ in cash, or
♦ by a debit to an approved credit card, debit card, or an Australia Post charge account.
Australia Post staff may refuse to offer the FaxPost service if the customer offers to pay on credit
terms and staff believe that Australia Post may not receive subsequent payment.
For more details, refer to L8.2 – Methods of payment of postage.
L7.4.10 – Return of original document
The sender may request the return of the original document:
♦ by collection from the Fax Centre, or
♦ by ordinary post, free of charge.
If the sender makes no request for the return of the original document, the Fax Centre destroys the
document after two months.
L7.4.11 – Liability of Australia Post
In relation to the FaxPost service, subject to the provisions of the Australia Post Terms and
Conditions, Australia Post is not liable for:
♦ any defamation or infringement of copyright
♦ any loss or damage of any kind (including but not limited to direct and consequential loss)
resulting from any act or omission, whether negligent or otherwise, by or on behalf of Australia
Post.
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Letter Post Guide
SECTION 8 – LETTER POST – GENERAL PROVISIONS
L8.1 – Scope of the Letter Post
L8.1.1 – Definition of Australia
The conditions of service of the Letter Post apply to all places within Australia. The following places
are within Australia:
♦ Lord Howe Island NSW 2898
♦ Australian Antarctic Territory TAS 7151
♦ Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands TAS 71501
The conditions also apply to:
♦ Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) WA 6798
♦ Cocos (Keeling) Islands WA 6799
♦ Norfolk Island NSW 2899.
However, these places require the same customs documentation as in the International Post. Refer
to International Post Guide.
L8.1.2 – Definition of same-State within Australia
Australia Post deems some postcodes that lie within or on the border of another State to be in that
State for the purposes of some Print Post charging. The table shows these postcodes.
State
Postcodes in other States or Territories considered to be in the same State
NSW
ACT postcodes 2600–2639, 0200–0299
WODONGA VIC 3689
TWEED HEADS NSW 2485
ALBURY NSW 2640
QLD
VIC
COOLANGATTA QLD 4225
WODONGA VIC 3690
TWEED HEADS SOUTH NSW 2486
LAVINGTON NSW 2641
This means that, for example, a Print Post article addressed to Albury, NSW 2640 attracts the sameState charge if it is posted in either New South Wales or Victoria.
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L8.2 – Methods of payment of postage
L8.2.1 – Postage stamps
Customers may prepay postage by means of postage stamps that they affix to the top right of the
address side of a letter or by postage meter impressions.
L8.2.2 – Summary of ways of paying postage
The table shows, for each product or service and each method of payment, whether customers may
pay postage by that method.
Product or service
Bulk letters – PAID postmark
Bulk letters – Postage Paid
imprint
Postage stamps, prepaid postal
stationery, satchels, Express
Post, Registered Post, Postpak,
FaxPost
Reply Paid
Postage paid by addressee at
delivery point – for example,
COD, More to Pay
Postage meter reset
Franking machine reset
Cash
NonApproved EFTPOS Credit
approved cheque debit
card
cheque
Debit to
charge
account
P
P
X
X
P
P
P
P
X
P
X
P
P
X
P
P
P
Only if
$10 or
more
X
P
X
X
X
P
X
P
X
P
P
P
P
P
X
X
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
X
L8.3 – Post-boxes
L8.3.1 – Official post-boxes
Official post-boxes display the latest time for posting mail to meet Australia Post’s delivery
timetables.
L8.3.2 – Private post-boxes
Owners or occupiers of business premises may apply to the General Manager Australia Post for
Australia Post to clear a private post-box installed in the premises.
A private post-box cleared by Australia Post must have the following notice displayed next to each
lodgement slot:
THIS IS A PRIVATE POST-BOX. ARTICLES POSTED IN IT WILL BE CARRIED BY POST, BUT EVIDENCE OF
THAT POSTING CANNOT BE USED AS EVIDENCE OF SERVICE BY POST.
The Post Charges Booklet (8833665) contains the charges for private post-boxes.
L8.4 – Acceptance of mail by postal delivery officers
You may lodge a small quantity of mail with a postal delivery officer engaged on deliveries if:
♦ the mail does not require special documentation or services
♦ the postage is fully prepaid
♦ it is practical for the officer to accept the mail.
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Letter Post Guide
L8.5 – Prohibitions
Certain items must not be posted in the International Post
The Dangerous and Prohibited Goods & Packaging Post Guide (8833729) prohibits the lodgement
of articles in all nine classes of dangerous goods. Each class is illustrated below with some examples
of common substances that fall (or might fall) into the class. If you have any doubts about a
particular substance, consult the Dangerous and Prohibited Goods & Packaging Post Guide
(8833729) for more details.
Class 1 – Explosives
Ammunition
Fireworks
Class 2 – Compressed gas – flammable and non-flammable
Aerosol products
Class 3 – Flammable liquids
Alcohol
Class 4 – Flammable solids
Magnesium, metallic
Class 5 – Oxidising material
Adhesives, some
Bleaching powders, some
Igniters.
Carbon dioxide gas
Cigarette lighters, butane.
Flammable paint and thinners
Flammable varnish removers.
Matches of all kinds
Zinc powder.
Dyes, hair or textile, made of
organic peroxides
Fibreglass repair kits.
Class 6 – Poisons, including drugs and medicines
Exceptionally, Australia Post accepts drugs and medicines in prescription quantities and nondangerous perishable biological substances when packed and transmitted in the prescribed manner.
For the prescribed conditions, see Dangerous and Prohibited Goods & Packaging Post Guide
(8833729).
Class 7 – Radioactive materials
Class 8 – Corrosives
Cleaning liquids, corrosive
Class 9 – Miscellaneous
Magnetised materials
Paint or varnish removers
Thermometers, mercury filled.
Oiled paper
Polymerisable materials.
L8.6 – Change-of-address and Holding services
Either Australia Post or an agent of the addressee can redirect letters if the addressee has changed
address. For full details, refer to Section 7 of General Post Guide (8837578).
L8.7 – Unclaimed, undeliverable, refused mail
The Letter Post provisions for unclaimed, undeliverable and refused letters are in Section 5 of
General Post Guide (8837578).
L8.8 – Withdrawal from the post
A sender who has lodged a Letter Post article may apply to have the article withdrawn from the post
and returned to the sender. Section 5 of General Post Guide (8837578) contains the conditions for
withdrawing an article from the post. Because of the potential for fraud, Australia Post strictly
observes these conditions and does not easily grant applications for withdrawal from the post.
Withdrawal charges are in the Post Charges Booklet (8833665).
L8.9 – Compensation and insurance
For the conditions that apply to compensation and insurance, refer to Section 6 of General Post
Guide (8837578).
Also, see L4.1 – Insurance.
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L8.10 – Enquiries and complaints
People with an enquiry or complaint about damage, delay or loss of a Letter Post article, should
contact an office of Australia Post and provide full details.
L8.10.1 – Lodgement of enquiry or complaint
Senders or addressees may lodge enquiries or complaints:
♦ on the enquiry form available at any office of Australia Post
♦ by post or telephone, if attendance at an office is inconvenient.
L8.10.2 – Non-delivery
Australia Post accepts an enquiry or a complaint about non-delivery of a Letter Post article if:
♦ the applicant can describe the article and give sufficient lodgement details
♦ sufficient time has elapsed to allow the article to reach its destination in the ordinary course of
carriage
♦ the applicant can provide reasonable evidence that the article was posted and has not yet been
delivered
♦ the applicant makes the enquiry within six months of the lodgement.
Action by Australia Post for non-delivery enquiries
The table shows the Australia Post action for Letter Post non-delivery enquiries.
Service
Action taken
Ordinary Post
Express Post
Registered Post
Insured Letters
Delivery Confirmation
No search
Search at the delivery office
Search at the delivery office
Search at the delivery office
Search at the delivery office
Australia Post returns undeliverable articles found in the mail to the sender, if possible.
L8.10.3 – Delayed delivery
Anyone making an enquiry or complaint about delayed delivery should, if possible, submit the
envelope or the cover of the delayed article in the condition in which they received it.
L8.10.4 – Information not to be divulged
Australia Post does not give information about postal articles or electronic mail messages that pass
through a post office, except to the person to whom the article or message is addressed.
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Letter Post Guide
SECTION 9 – LETTER POST SPECIFICATIONS
L9.1 – Envelopes
L9.1.1 – Introduction
Electronic letter processing equipment handles Letters faster, more efficiently and more economically
than manual sorting methods. The respective post charges reflect the difference in handling costs.
Why an envelope specification is necessary
Letters passing through modern high-speed postmarking and sorting machines are subject to
considerable stress. Envelope specifications are necessary to ensure envelopes can be successfully
machine-processed. Sorting officers transfer Letters that are not suitable for machine processing to
manual processing areas.
Some envelopes are not suitable for machine processing because of the characteristics of the
envelope paper, such as strength, porosity, luminescence, and so on. Some types of recycled paper
with prominent paper fibres are also unsuitable for machine processing.
Contents of a small envelope
Small Letters should not contain stiff objects such as bottle tops, pens, computer diskettes, compact
discs, and so on. High-speed machine processing could damage such objects, or the objects could
damage other letters.
The formal specification
Australia Post Specification Number 111 – Standard Postal Article Mail contains technical envelope
specifications including details of the various standard tests that Australia Post applies.
Envelope testing
Customers may send sample envelopes for testing to:
Group Manager Letters, Australia Post HQ, GPO Box 1777, MELBOURNE VIC 3001.
L9.1.2 – Application of these specifications as a mandatory requirement
The basis of post charges for some Letter Post services is the requirement that all envelopes and
wrappers lodged meet certain mandatory specifications. Certain sections of these specifications are
mandatory requirements for particular Letter Post services. For details of which specifications are
mandatory, please refer to the terms and conditions for each particular service.
L9.1.3 – Envelope paper quality
The table shows the minimum and maximum values of the attributes of the paper stock used for the
manufacture of envelopes.
Attribute
Minimum
Density
65 gsm
110 gsm
Thickness
0.08 mm
0.18 mm
Stiffness – machine direction 3 mN
Maximum
—
1.5 mN
—
Porosity
250 ml/min
1000 ml/min
Tearing resistance
350 mN
—
Smoothness
35 ml/min
550 ml/min
Opacity
75%
—
Diffuse reflectance
Mean of 60% @ 425–500 nm
Mean of 70% @ 500–700 nm
0.2
—
Stiffness – cross direction
Coefficient of friction
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L9.1.4 – Envelope size
For the size of envelopes, refer to:
♦ L2.2 – Small Letters
♦ L2.3 – Large Letters
♦ L6.1 – Bulk Letter sizes and weights
L9.1.5 – Envelope colour
Recommended colours
Australia Post recommends white envelopes, but some light tints or half-tones are acceptable. The
table shows the range of 78 acceptable colours from the Pantone Matching System (PMS).
100
141
277
373
461
524
101
142
290
379
467
530
106
148
304
386
468
531
107
149
317
393
474
538
113
155
331
400
475
545
114
162
332
406
482
552
120
169
337
413
488
559
121
176
344
427
489
566
127
196
351
434
496
573
128
203
358
441
502
579
134
217
365
453
503
580
135
250
366
454
510
586
136
263
372
460
517
587
Australia Post may reject lodgements of Letters in envelopes or wrappers in colours not in the table
above. If you have doubts about the intended colour of your envelopes, send samples for testing to
Group Manager Letters, Australia Post HQ, GPO Box 1777, MELBOURNE VIC 3001.
L9.1.6 – Postcode Squares
Electronic letter-sorting equipment can read a hand-written postcode number when the number is
inside four pre-printed Postcode Squares on the envelope. Small Letters with hand-written
Australian addresses should always use envelopes with the pre-printed Postcode Squares.
Postcode Squares colour and specification
The following points specify the location and layout of the Postcode Squares:
♦ Postcode Squares are on the
address side of the envelope
♦ the colour of the Postcode
30±0.2
Squares and the word
20±0.2
POSTCODE must be PMS150
(orange). No other colour or
10±0.2
20±2.5
a colour made up to look like
PMS 150 is acceptable. Fourcolour process matching is
9.0±0.2
not acceptable.
♦ inclusion of the word
POSTCODE in letters 2.5 mm
high is optional.
19±3
7.0±0.2
♦ the key reference point is the
bottom right corner of the
envelope.
♦ each Postcode Square perimeter line is 0.3 mm ± 0.2 mm wide.
♦ all other dimensions are from the centre of the perimeter lines.
♦ the bottom edge of each Postcode Square is 19 mm ± 3 mm from the bottom edge of the
envelope
♦ the right edge of the right-most Postcode Square is 20 mm ± 2.5 mm from the right edge of the
envelope.
♦ each Postcode Square is 7 mm ± 0.2 mm wide and 9 mm ± 0.2 mm high.
♦ the separation between each Postcode Square is 3 mm ± 0.2 mm.
The General Manager, Australia Post in each State capital city can provide actual-size reproduction
artwork suitable for use by printers.
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Letter Post Guide
Envelopes that do not need Postcode Squares
Small Letter envelopes that will be exclusively machine-addressed do not need the pre-printed
Postcode Squares. If your envelopes could be either machine-addressed or hand-written, use
envelopes with the Postcode Squares. This avoids the need to stock two types of envelope.
Envelopes that should not have Postcode Squares
Postcode Squares should not be pre-printed on:
♦ transparent or window panel envelopes
♦ Aerogrammes or envelopes that are used exclusively in the International Post.
Postcode Squares distinguishing symbol
The illustration shows the official distinguishing symbol for pre-printed
Small Letter envelopes with the four Postcode Squares. If envelopes and
Postcode Squares meet Australia Post specifications, envelope
manufacturers and distributors may show the symbol, together with the
POP symbol (refer L9.1.10) on envelope wrappers, boxes or displays. No
approval to use the symbol is required. The size of the symbol may vary to suit the circumstances.
L9.1.7 – Printing on envelopes
The diagram shows the zones on the face of an envelope and the location of the four Postcode
Squares. These zones do not apply to all services, refer to the relevant services guide for full details.
All dimensions are in millimetres.
90
1 Postage Zone
4 Service Zone
40
2 Address Zone
3 Indexing Zone
15 minimum
15
15
1 Postage Zone
The Postage Zone is reserved for postage stamps, postage meter imprints, and Post Paid indicators.
For the format of the Postage Zone on a Reply Paid envelope or postcard, refer to L5.3.12 –
Printing specification for Reply Paid articles.
2 Address Zone
The Address Zone is reserved for the postal address.
3 Indexing Zone
The Indexing Zone is reserved for Australia Post bar-code printing. The shading in the diagram
above is for illustrative purposes only.
4 Service Zone
The Service Zone may contain service indicators or the return address.
L9.1.8 – Imitation envelopes
Australia Post may reject envelopes that imitate or resemble FaxPost or Lettergram envelopes.
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L9.1.9 – Reusable envelopes
Reusable envelopes must be designed and manufactured in such a way that they can be successfully
machine processed both on their outward and return journeys. To ensure this is so, customers
intending to use reusable envelopes should send a design proof or samples for testing to
Group Manager Letters
Australia Post HQ
GPO Box 1777
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
L9.1.10 – Standards Association reference on envelopes
Australian Standard AS4611-1999 – Mailing Envelopes defines Post Office
Preferred or POP envelopes. The illustration shows the official distinguishing
symbol for POP envelopes. Provided the envelopes meet AS4611-1999,
envelope manufacturers and distributors may show the symbol on envelope
wrappers, boxes or displays as a guide to purchasers. No approval to use the
symbol is required. The size of the symbol may vary to suit the circumstances.
POST OFFICE
PREFERR ED
L9.1.11 – Transparent panel envelopes
L9.1.11.1 – Panel quality
Transparent panel envelopes must have clear panels. Australia Post does not permit open window
panels. Even very clear panels can cause problems if they reflect too much light. When measured by
a suitable photometric method, the contrast ratio of the panel material must not exceed 25%.
Customers intending to use a new panel material should send samples for testing (at least 50 mm x 80
mm) to Group Manager Letters, Australia Post HQ, GPO Box 1777, MELBOURNE VIC 3001.
The envelope paper should securely adhere to the panel material up to and around the entire panel
edge. This prevents parts of letter-processing machinery or corners of other letters catching in the
panel edges.
L9.1.11.2 – Size and position of address panel
The address panel should be parallel with the longer dimension of the envelope and should be not
less than 30 mm x 80 mm. The panel may be located anywhere within the Address Zone.
85
Service Zone
Address Zone
Postage Zone
40
80 minimum
30 minimum
Indexing Zone
15 minimum
15
15
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Letter Post Guide
Contents of panel envelopes
The design of the contents of transparent panel envelopes must ensure that:
♦ the whole address remains visible in the panel, even if the contents shift
♦ no non-address information shows in the panel, even if the contents shift
♦ the address is clearly visible without having to press the panel against the address or shake the
envelope to bring the address into view.
Do not use:
♦ light-weight paper with excessive carbon show-through
♦ coloured or patterned paper or printed colours or patterns in the address area of the contents.
It is useful to include folding guidelines on the stationery.
If you need a colour for identification, use colour printing on white paper, or a coloured strip away
from the address area.
Second panels
If you need a second transparent panel for advertising, pictorial display, or a return address then:
♦ the second panel must be smaller than the address panel
♦ the second panel must be entirely within the Service Zone and entirely outside the Address
Zone
♦ the two panels may be close to one another, but must be within their respective zones
♦ the second panel must not impair the quality or the machine-handling capability of the envelope
or impede the processing of any other article with which it comes into contact
♦ the font-size of any return address in the second panel should be smaller than the font used in
the address panel.
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L9.2 – Postcards
The introductory comments about the need for a specification for envelopes applies equally to
postcards. Refer to L9.1.1 – Introduction.
L9.2.1 – Services in which this specification is mandatory
The basis for the post charges for some Letter Post services is the expectation that all postcards
lodged meet the Australia Post specifications. This specification is a mandatory requirement for all
articles lodged in:
♦ Print Post
♦ PreSort Letters
♦ Reply Paid.
L9.2.2 – Card stock quality
The table shows the minimum and maximum values of the attributes of the card stock used for the
manufacture of a postcard.
Attribute
Minimum
Maximum
Density
140 gsm
500 gsm
Thickness
0.18 mm
Stiffness – machine direction 30 mN
1.5 mm
1140 mN
Stiffness – cross direction
14 mN
1140 mN
Porosity
250 ml/min
1000 ml/min
Tearing resistance
350 mN
—
Smoothness
35 ml/min
550 ml/min
Opacity
75%
—
Diffuse reflectance
Mean of 60% @ 425–500 nm
Mean of 70% @ 500–700 nm
0.2
—
Coefficient of friction
0.5
The longer edge of a postcard must be parallel to the machine direction (the grain) of the card stock.
Most paper suppliers can supply card that meets this specification.
Customers may send card stock samples for testing to:
Group Manager Letters, Australia Post HQ, GPO Box 1777, MELBOURNE VIC 3001.
L9.2.3 – Postcard size
A postcard must be within the size limits of a Letter – refer to L2.2 – Small Letter and L2.3 – Large
Letter.
L9.2.4 – Postcard colour
The address side of an unenclosed postcard should comply with the same colour specification as an
envelope – refer to L9.1.5 – Envelope colour. Australia Post does not accept a tinselled or beaded
postcard unless it is enclosed in an envelope.
L9.2.5 – Postcode Squares
The following postcards do not need the pre-printed Postcode Squares:
♦ pictorial postcards, where there is limited address space
♦ postcards that will be exclusively machine-addressed.
All other postcards require Postcode Squares – refer to L9.1.6 – Postcode Squares for the
specification.
L9.2.6 – Printing on postcards
For a non-pictorial postcard – that is, a postcard with the message on the back of the card, the same
specification applies as for an envelope. Refer to L9.1.7 – Printing on envelopes.
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L9.2.7 – Pictorial postcards
The diagram shows the layout and the zones of the address side of a pictorial postcard.
Message Area
Stamp affixing
designator
Service Zone
AFFIX
STAMP
HERE
40
70 minimum
15
Suggested area for
description of
pictorial scene
Indexing Zone
reserved for
Australia Post – it
must contain no
printing
Dividing line between the
Address Zone and the
Message Area
Address Zone with optional
faint or dotted address guide
lines
L9.2.8 – Machine Addressed Postcards
Postcards for the Clean Mail Service or the PreSort Letter service must comply with the conditions
applicable to the letter sizes of that service.
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L9.3 – Plastic wrapping and covers
Australia Post accepts some Large Letters enclosed in plastic wrapping or covers if they meet the
specifications below.
L9.3.1 – Services in which this specification is mandatory
The basis of post charges for some Letter Post services is the requirement that all envelopes and
wrappers lodged meet certain mandatory specifications. Certain sections of these specifications are
mandatory requirements for particular Letter Post services. For details of which specifications are
mandatory, please refer to the terms and conditions for each particular service.
L9.3.2 – Conditions of use
Senders may enclose a Letter in a plastic wrapping or cover if:
♦ all articles in the cover are securely bound or tied together as well as wrapped
♦ the plastic material complies with L9.3.3 – Plastic specification
♦ the welds, if any, must be as strong as the parent material.
L9.3.3 – Plastic specification
Plastics can cause problems with some postal operations. In general, medium impact-resistant, antistatic polyethylene is suitable if its attributes fall within the limits shown in the table.
Attribute
Value
Comments
Thickness
A minimum of 25 µm.
Impact strength
Equal to 50 µm film.
Recommended values for
polyethylene are:
50 µm for articles up to 500 g
100 µm for articles over 500 g
Refer to AS1326 – 1972
Tearing resistance
At least 450 mN in any direction Refer to AS TMD1922 – 1989
Kinetic coefficient of friction
Between 0.2 and 0.4
Refer to AS 1326 – 1972
Gloss level
60 units ± 10%
Refer to AS 1326 – 1972
You may use a material other than polyethylene if it meets this specification.
Customers may send a sample (0.6 m x 1.6 m) for testing to:
Group Manager Letters, Australia Post HQ, GPO Box 1777, MELBOURNE VIC 3001.
L9.3.4 – Addressing of plastic wrapped Letters
Senders may affix an address label to the outside of the plastic cover or under the plastic cover. If it
is under the plastic cover, the address label must remain visible and legible through the plastic at all
times during carriage.
L9.4 – Paper wrappers
Large numbers of publications find their way to the Dead Letter Office because of inadequate paper
wrappers. Wrappers must be of sufficient size and strength to withstand the heavy pressure and
friction that can occur during Letter Post processing. The following guidelines apply.
Paper quality
Use paper of sufficient strength and quality that will not burst or tear under pressure or friction.
Complete cover
A paper wrapper should completely cover the article it encloses to prevent damage to the article.
Fold not roll
Rolled and wrapped articles are prone to burst their wrappings. If you cannot wrap the article flat, a
fold is much better than a roll.
Keep it tight
A paper wrapper should tightly grip the article it encloses; otherwise, friction will cause it to slip off.
Small openings
Any openings in a paper wrapper should be less than 88 mm.
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L9.5 – Zip-fastened envelopes
Australia Post accepts zip-fastened envelopes of plastic, or other material, only of Large Letter-size.
L9.5.1 – Submission of prototype
Anyone proposing to manufacture a zip-fastened envelope should first send a prototype for
comments to:
Group Manager Letters, Australia Post HQ, GPO Box 1777, MELBOURNE VIC 3001.
L9.5.2 – Recommended features
Australia Post recommends that a zip-fastened envelope has the following features.
Postage panel
The postage panel is in the top-right of the envelope. It should be large enough to insert a card
bearing stamps and any other necessary endorsements or service labels. No material may cover the
panel, even transparent material.
Address panel
The address panel is in the lower-right of the envelope. It is on the same side as the postage panel. It
should be large enough to insert a card bearing an address. A transparent material may cover this
panel.
Seals or locks
A suitable sealing or locking device must exist if the envelope is for use in Registered Post.
L9.6 – Self-mailers
A self-mailer is an unenclosed communication. Usually it is a single sheet of paper, folded to Small
Letter size and sealed.
The specification for a self-mailer is the same as for an envelope concerning paper density and
quality, size, colour and printing – refer to L9.1 – Envelopes. In addition, the following conditions
apply specifically to self-mailers:
♦ the article must be sealed on all sides
♦ the article may comprise more than one sheet of paper if one sealed piece completely encloses
the others
♦ if the paper is from a computer printout with sprocket holes, you must remove the edge strips
by guillotine to produce a smooth rather than a ragged edge.
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SECTION 10 – CORRECT ADDRESSING STANDARDS
L10.1 – What is correct addressing?
The address on your mail is a direction to Australia Post. It should be complete, concise, and clearly
written or printed so that Australia Post can process and deliver your mail accurately and speedily.
L10.1.1 – Services in which correct addressing is mandatory
The basis of post charges for some Letter Post services is the requirement that all envelopes and
wrappers lodged meet certain mandatory specifications. Certain sections of these specifications are
mandatory requirements for particular Letter Post services. For details of which specifications are
mandatory, please refer to the terms and conditions for each particular service.
L10.1.2 – Components of a correct address
The address on any postal article must be left justified and contain the components shown in the
table.
Address component
Position and format
Comments
Name of addressee
First line of address.
Mandatory.
In Registered Post, you must
not use an acronym or a
codename, unless the address
also contains a 'care of' named
addressee in a subsequent line.
Optional.
For letters addressed to a
person at a company or
organisation, this is the
company or organisation name
“Attention of:” or other
reference details
Street address, Box number,
or Locked Bag number
Second and, if necessary, third
line of the address
Second last line of the address
and must contain no
punctuation or underlining.
Locality name or the name of The first component of the last
the office of delivery
line of the address. It must be
in UPPER CASE letters and
contain no punctuation or
underlining.
The State or Territory
The second component of the
abbreviation
last address line. It must be in
UPPER CASE letters and
contain no punctuation or
underlining.
The postcode
The third and last component of
the last address line and must
contain no punctuation or
underlining.
Mandatory.
Mandatory.
Mandatory.
Mandatory.
For hand-addressed responses,
the postcode should be in the
Postcode Squares.
Punctuation
You should avoid using punctuation of any sort in the text in the last line of the address. This
includes full stops and commas.
Underlining
Do not underline any part of the address.
Reply Paid addressing
Exceptionally, the address structure on Reply Paid Responses differs from that shown above.
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L10.1.3 – Position of the address on envelopes
The address must be legible and clearly set out parallel to the long side of the envelope. It must be
within the Address Zone of the envelope or postcard and be at least 15 mm clear of the bottom and
sides of the envelope. Refer to the diagram at L9.1.7 – Printing on envelopes.
The first line of the address should be at least 40 mm from the top of the envelope to leave room for
the Postage Zone containing postage stamps, postage meter imprints and postmarks.
Remember to include a sender’s address on all Letters. This greatly assists the return of undeliverable
Letters.
Addresses printed on adhesive labels are acceptable if the address falls in the correct position and
alignment.
L10.1.4 – Position of address on wrappers
On wrappers, the address should be clearly set out parallel to the long side of the cover and be
positioned to leave room for postage stamps, postage meter imprints and postmarks. Australia Post
prefers adhesive labels on wrappers.
Do not use tags or trailing labels on items in the Letter Post.
Remember to include a sender’s address on all mail. This greatly assists the return of undeliverable
items.
L10.1.5 – Postcode
Correct use of postcodes ensures that letters arrive at their proper destinations quickly. You should
use a postcode:
♦ in all addresses on letters
♦ in all letterhead addresses
♦ in printed addresses on invoices, account forms, and so on
♦ in all “return to sender” addresses on envelopes.
The postcode in machine-printed addresses
In machine-printed addresses, the postcode must appear as the last item in the last line of the
address, located only one or two spaces after the State or Territory abbreviation. If the envelope
contains Postcode Squares, ignore them.
The postcode in hand-written addresses on Small Letters
In hand-written addresses on Small Letter envelopes, you must use the Postcode Squares pre-printed
on the envelope. Do not use the Postcode Squares if you are sending a letter to an overseas address.
The Postcode Booklet
The Postcode Booklet contains a list of around 8000 Australian place names and their postcodes. It
is freely available from any office of Australia Post. A postcode listing is also on the back pages of
metropolitan L–Z White Pages.
L10.1.6 – Form of address for counter mail delivery
Where Letters are addressed for collection at a post office (or Poste Restante in the International
Post), the address must include the family name and the given name or initial of the addressee. You
must not use initials only, figures, given names only, fictitious names or codes.
L10.1.7 – Form of address for crew or passengers on board ship
You should address mail to crew or passengers on board ship care of the shipping company agents at
the port of call. The postage rate to the country in which the port is situated applies.
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L10.1.8 – Form of address for flats, units or apartments
Use only the forms of address in the examples below for flats, units or apartments.
For flat 2 at 14 Smith Street
For unit 2 at 14 Smith Street
For apartment 2 at 14 Smith Street
Flat 2 14 Smith St
2/14 Smith St
Unit 2 14 Smith St
2/14 Smith St
2/14 Smith St
APT 2 14 Smith St
Use of the solidus (/)
Australia Post accepts a solidus (/) to separate a flat, unit or apartment number from the
thoroughfare number. However, do not use a solidus to separate other address elements, such as a
shop, suite, or factory number or a building level number.
L10.1.9 – Recommended thoroughfare abbreviations
Thoroughfare
Alley
Arcade
Avenue
Boulevard
Close
Court
Crescent
Drive
Esplanade
Abbreviation
Thoroughfare
Abbreviation
ALLY
ARC
AVE
BVD
CL
CT
CRES
DR
ESP
Grove
GR
HWY
LANE
PDE
PL
RD
SQ
ST
TCE
Highway
Lane
Parade
Place
Road
Square
Street
Terrace
L10.1.10 – Exchange of postal addresses
For the satisfactory interchange of correspondence, it is essential that each party knows the correct
postal address of the other. You should therefore display your own correct postal address on your
notepaper, visiting cards, business communications, advertisements and so on.
If you hold a post office box or a locked bag, prominently display the number and post office name.
Always include the correct postcode.
L10.1.11 – Printed letterheads
Because it is customary to pin or clip documents at the left-hand corner, the best position for an
address on a letterhead is at the top right-hand corner.
No postal address is complete unless it includes the postcode.
If you hold a post office box or a locked bag, prominently display the number and post office name
on your letterhead. For example:
Please address all mail to:
W J Jones & Associates
Locked Bag 7
SUNSHINE VIC 3020
If you want to show your office or factory location on your stationery, lay it out as follows:
J C BROWN PTY LTD
Postal Address:
PO Box 2941
BURNIE TAS 7320
Office Location:
14th Floor, 71 Jones Street
BURNIE, TASMANIA
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L10.1.12 – Forms and reply coupons
As on a letterhead, the best position for the sender’s address on forms and reply coupons is usually at
the top right-hand corner.
It is a common design fault for forms, and reply coupons that ask for an address to have insufficient
space for a full address.
The address space on a form should always specifically invite the inclusion of the postcode.
L10.2 – Address Layout on Envelopes
Modern letter sorting equipment relies on well-addressed letters, the use of consistent address
formats and the correct use of postcodes to achieve maximum performance and efficiency.
Letters that cannot be machine-processed are diverted to the slower manual processes.
This section illustrates the correct, and some common incorrect, methods of address layout for both
hand-addressed and machine-addressed letters. This section does not apply to Reply Paid addresses.
L10.2.1 – Address printing
Machine-printed addresses
The font for machine-printed addresses should be a fixed pitch font, such as Courier 12 point.
This line is an example of Courier 12 point.
If only proportional fonts are available, ensure that the print characters do not touch or overlap.
Ideally, use Helvetica 12 point.
For fixed-font machines, such as typewriters, line printers or course dot-matrix printers, use
only 10 pitch – that is 10 characters per inch.
The table shows the attributes of print font characters that are necessary for machine readability.
Attribute
Specification
Comments
Height of characters
1.8 mm minimum
7.0 mm maximum
0.3 mm minimum
7.0 mm maximum
1.0 mm minimum
2.5 mm maximum
Courier 12 point
Helvetica 12 point
10 pitch for fixed-font machines
Do not use any special effects
The ideal height is between
2.0 mm and 4.0 mm.
Width of characters
Space between lines
Font style
Special effects
Do not use artistic or script
fonts.
Special effects include
underline,
bold, italic,
shadow,
,
eemmbboossss, eennggrraavvee.
Kerning
Do not use kerning
Colour
Use only black
Print characters must not touch
or overlap.
In the last line of the address, leave one or two character spaces between the place name, the State or
Territory abbreviation, and the postcode. Ignore any Postcode Squares printed on the envelope.
Hand-written addresses
For hand-written addresses, use a dark, preferable black, ink. Do not use red, orange or yellow ink.
In the last line of the address, leave one or two character spaces between words and one or two
spaces between the place name and the State or Territory abbreviation. Write the destination
postcode in the Postcode Squares.
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L10.2.2 – Address layout
A correct machine-addressed layout
There is a
return
address in
the Service
Zone
The address is printed in Courier 12 point
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
DRAKE TYRE CO
Attn: Mr A. Brown
17 INDUSTRY AVE
BELLATA NSW 2397
“Attention”
or reference
details
appear
above the
last two
lines of the
address
The left margin is justified.
The postcode is in the last line of the address
with one or two spaces between the place
name, the state abbreviation and the postcode.
The Postcode
Squares are
not used
A correct hand-addressed layout
Mr R. Black
12 Kingston Rd
THE GAP QLD
4 0 6
1
The left margin is justified.
The last line of the address contains only
the place name and state abbreviation in
capital letters with no underlining or
punctuation.
The postcode is
wholly within the
Postcode
Squares.
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L10.2.3 – The first line of the address
The first line of the address should contain the name of the addressee.
L10.2.4 – The second-last line of the address
The second last line of the address should contain only the street number and name, or a post office
box number or locked bag number. When appropriate, add the flat, unit or floor number ahead of
the street number.
A correct address to a post office box
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
TATE FABRICS PTY LTD
GPO BOX 60
BRISBANE QLD 4001
An incorrect address to a post office box
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
TATE FABRICS PTY LTD
BOX 60
GPO
BRISBANE QLD 4001
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A correct address to a flat
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MISS J WHEELER
FLAT 5 5 SMITH ST
EAST PERTH WA 6004
An incorrect address to a flat
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MISS J WHEELER
5 SMITH ST, FLAT 5
EAST PERTH WA 6004
An incorrect address to a flat
During 1998, Australia Post changed the standard method of addressing flats, apartments and units.
The new standard is at the top of the page. The example below shows the standard before 1998.
Australia Post currently accepts letters addressed in this way, but encourages all senders of mail and
designers of letterheads to adopt the new standard quickly to enable machine reading of these types
of addresses.
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MISS J WHEELER
F5/5 SMITH ST
EAST PERTH WA
6004
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Letter Post Guide
L10.2.5 – The last line of the address
The last line of the address should contain only the place name or the post office of delivery, the
State or Territory abbreviation and the postcode, in that order. Each must be in UPPER CASE
separated by one or two character spaces, with no punctuation and no underlining.
A correct last line of an address
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MRS A TABLER
14 ROACH AVE
ARMADALE VIC
3143
Mrs A Tabler
14 Roach Ave
ARMADALE VIC
3 1 4
Incorrect last line of an address
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MRS A TABLER
14 ROACH AVE
ARMADALE
VIC 3143
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L10.2.6 – The postcode
The postcode must be the last item in the address. It should appear on the same line as the placename or post office of delivery, the State or Territory abbreviation and above AUSTRALIA on mail
from overseas. For hand-addressed Small Letters, the postcode should be in the Postcode Squares.
Correct postcodes
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Ltd
474 Southbank Road
HEREFORD HR1 2TL
UK
MR P R McDONALD
20 SKYVIEW RD
LINTON VIC 3360
AUSTRALIA
An incorrect postcode
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Ltd
474 Southbank Rd
HEREFORD HR1 2TL
UK
MR P R McDONALD
20 SKYVIEW RD
LINTON VIC
AUSTRALIA 3360
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L10.2.7 – Skewed address blocks
The address lines should be parallel to the bottom edge of the envelope.
A variance of up to five degrees is tolerable.
A correctly aligned address block
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MR J KENT
200 BROADWAY AVE
WEST BEACH SA 5024
An incorrect skewed address block
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
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L10.2.8 – Staggered address blocks
Do not stagger address blocks, in which successive lines are indented. All lines of the address should
be justified to a uniform left margin.
A correct justified address block
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MR J BROWN
241 SMITH ST
BANKSTOWN NSW
2200
An incorrectly staggered address block
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MR J BROWN
241 SMITH ST
BANKSTOWN NSW 2200
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L10.2.9 – Punctuation in the address
Keep punctuation within an address to a minimum.
Do not use any punctuation in the last lines of the address. This includes full stops or commas.
A correct address with no punctuation
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
H GREGORY & CO PTY LTD
84 WISHBONE TCE
FREMANTLE WA 6160
An incorrect last address line containing punctuation
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
H GREGORY & CO PTY LTD
84 WISHBONE TCE
FREMANTLE. WA. 6160.
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L10.2.10 – Underlining the address
Do not underline anywhere in the address, especially the last line and the area adjacent to the
Postcode Squares.
A correct address with no underlining
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MR S SMYTHE
18 GREEN TCE
WILLAURA VIC
3379
Incorrect uses of underlining
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MR S SMYTHE
18 GREEN TCE
WILLAURA VIC
3379
Mr S Smythe
18 Green Tce
WILLAURA VIC
3 3 7
9
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Letter Post Guide
L10.2.11 – Transparent panel envelopes
Design the contents of transparent panel envelopes so that the address is clearly visible through the
panel without having to press the panel against the address or to shake the envelope. No printing,
other than the address, may be visible through the panel. Even if the envelope contents shift, the
whole address must remain visible in the panel.
A correct address panel
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MRS C O’CONNELL
47 JASPER RD
LAUNCESTON TAS
7250
Incorrect address panels
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
ACCN
3765
CUST
CODE
MRS C O’CONNELL
47 JASPER RD
LAUNCESTON TAS
4172 3149 5768
If undelivered return to:
J Webb & Co Pty Ltd
GPO Box 6450
SYDNEY NSW 2001
MRS C O’CONNELL
47 JASPER RD
LAUNCESTON TAS
November 2005
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L.10.2.12 – Hand-addressed envelopes
When hand-addressing Small Letters, use envelopes with the pre-printed Postcode Squares. Address
in the normal manner, but write each digit of the postcode wholly within a Postcode Square.
A correct hand-written address
Mr D Ryan
19 Waratah Ave
DARWIN NT
0 8 0
0
Incorrect hand-written addresses
Mr D Ryan
19 Warratah Ave
DARWIN NT
0 8 0 0
L10.3 – Incorrect addressing
It is the sender’s responsibility to supply a correct postal address for delivery. Australia Post does not
deliver articles:
♦ that bear puzzle-type addresses
♦ if the address side is marked into divisions intended for the insertion of several addresses and
which are obviously lodged for carriage to successive address points merely to establish carriage
over a given route by air or otherwise.
L10.4 – Sender’s return address
Australia Post returns many thousands of mail items to senders each year and prefers to return them
unopened. It can only do this if the article shows the sender’s address.
The sender’s full postal address may appear in the top-left of the envelope face in the Service Zone,
or on the back of the article.
Australia Post cannot agree to requests by senders that undeliverable articles are returned within a
certain time. It is often not possible to achieve this.
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Letter Post Guide
SECTION 11 – ARTICLES THAT AUSTRALIA POST MAY
REFUSE TO CARRY
11.1 – General principles
Australia Post reserves the right to refuse to carry an article under certain conditions. Customers
with queries should consult staff at any office of Australia Post.
D11.2 – Postage stamps and postage meter impressions
Australia Post may refuse to carry any article that:
♦ has postage stamps or postage meter impressions affixed elsewhere than at the top right-hand
corner of the surface of the article that bears the address
♦ has postage stamps insufficiently separated from the address to prevent the address being
obscured by postmarks
♦ is enclosed in an envelope or wrapping bearing postage stamps that have been postmarked prior
to lodgement, except for redirected articles
♦ has affixed to, or printed on its address side, non-postal stamps, charity labels, designs or
impressions likely to be mistaken for postage stamps, postage meter impressions or postmarks.
D11.3 – Words or symbols likely to delay or misdirect
Australia Post may refuse to carry any article that is marked with any words or symbols that are likely
to delay or misdirect the carriage of the article.
11.4 – Envelopes or wrappings
Australia Post may refuse to carry any article that has an envelope, wrapping or method of fastening
that:
♦ is likely to trap other articles or to cause articles to adhere to each other or to postal machinery
♦ by reason of its colour or transparency is likely to delay sorting
♦ is marked off into divisions for the purpose of inserting several addresses
♦ resembles an envelope used for the carriage of electronic mail or has written on it any word or
words that could lead the addressee to believe that the article was carried by electronic mail
♦ has a label affixed or information printed on the address side of the article that implies the
article has been lodged for a particular Australia Post service when this is not so.
D11.5 – Addressing
Australia Post may refuse to carry any article that has an address that:
♦ is illegible
♦ is not written on the largest surface so as to run parallel to the longest dimension, unless the
address appears on a label securely attached to a package.
November 2005
Letter Post Guide
75
INDEX
A
abbreviations, thoroughfares ......................L10.1.9
D
delivery confirmation, Letters ..........................L4.2
acceptance of mail by postal delivery officers
.......................................................................... L8.4
ACT ...................................................................L8.1.2
address for crew or passengers on board ship
.....................................................................L10.1.7
address for flats or units ..............................L10.1.8
address layout on envelopes...........................L10.2
Address Zone...................................................L9.1.7
address, change of .............................................. L8.6
address, components of ...............................L10.1.2
address, hand-written .................................L10.2.12
address, machine-printed ............. L10.2.1, L10.2.2
address, return...................................................L10.4
addresses, incorrect..........................................L10.3
addressing standards ........................................L10.1
apartments, form of address .......................L10.1.8
article characteristics .......................................... L1.1
Australia, definition.........................................L8.1.1
Australian Antarctic Territory.......................L8.1.1
Australian Standard for envelopes .............L9.1.10
delivery timetable
Express Post ............................................... L3.2.8
Impact Mail................................................. L6.7.2
ordinary Letter Post .................................. L3.1.2
PreSort Letters ........................................... L6.4.2
dimensions:
bulk letters.......................................................L6.1
Impact Mail................................................. L6.7.3
Large Letter.......................................... L2.3, L6.1
Medium Letter................................................L6.1
Print Post..................................................... L6.3.3
Small Letter....................................... L2.2.1, L6.1
B
PreSort Letters .................................................... L6.4
blind, articles for................................................. L5.1
blind, recognised institutions and organisations
.......................................................................L5.1.4
bulk letter sizes and weights............................. L6.1
C
card stock quality, postcards .........................L9.2.2
change of address ............................................... L8.6
Charity Mail ......................................................... L6.5
Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) .................L8.1.1
Clean Mail ...............................................L1.1.2, L6.6
Cocos (Keeling) Islands .................................L8.1.1
colour, envelopes.............................................L9.1.5
colour, postcards .............................................L9.2.4
compensation....... Section 6, General Post Guide
complaints about Letter Post.........................L8.10
contents of a Letter.........................................L2.5.1
contents of Express Post...............................L3.2.4
correct addressing ............................................L10.1
counter mail delivery ....................................L10.1.6
covers, plastic wrappings .................................. L9.3
E
EDI Post ..............................................................L7.2
electronic mail services ......................................L7.1
enquiries about Letter Post............................ L8.10
envelope specification........................................L9.1
envelopes:
Express Post Prepaid ................................ L3.2.6
imitation....................................................... L9.1.8
postage prepaid .......................................... L3.1.3
recommended sizes:
bulk letters..................................................L6.1
Large Letter ........................................... L2.3.1
Small Letter............................................ L2.2.1
Refusal to Carry........................................... L11.4
Registered Post........................................... L3.3.7
reusable ........................................................ L9.1.9
transparent panel.................... L9.1.11, L10.2.11
zip-fastened.....................................................L9.5
Express Post ........................................................L3.2
F
FaxPost envelopes, imitation........................ L9.1.8
FaxPost .................................................................L7.4
flats, form of address.................................... L10.1.8
fonts for address printing............................ L10.2.1
G
Greeting card .......................................................L2.4
H
hand-written addresses .............. L10.2.1, L10.2.12
Heard Island..................................................... L8.1.1
November 2005
76
IImpact Mail ............................................L1.1.5, L6.7
imprint, Registered Post.................................L3.3.9
Indexing Zone on envelope ..........................L9.1.7
insurance, Letters................................................ L4.1
K
kerning.............................................................L10.2.1
L
labels, prepaid, Registered Post ....................L3.3.8
Large Letter ...............................................L2.3, L6.1
Letter Post, ordinary.............................L1.1.1, L3.1
Letter, Small......................................................... L2.2
Lettergram .......................................................... L7.3
Lettergram envelopes, imitation...................L9.1.8
letterheads.....................................................L10.1.11
Letters Refused .................................................L11.0
Local Delivery service to country areas ......... L6.2
lodgement:
Charity Mail.................................................L6.5.5
enquiry or complaint ...............................L8.10.1
Express Post................................................L3.2.7
FaxPost.........................................................L7.4.6
Letter Post, ordinary..................................L3.1.1
Lettergram ...................................................L7.3.1
Local Delivery Service...............................L6.2.4
PreSort Letters...................................... L6.4.7-12
Print Post .....................................................L6.3.4
Lord Howe Island ...........................................L8.1.1
M
machine-printed addresses ..........................L10.2.1
McDonald Island.............................................L8.1.1
Medium Letter .................................................... L6.1
N
non-delivery....................................................L8.10.2
Norfolk Island .................................................L8.1.1
O
official post-boxes...........................................L8.3.1
P
panel envelopes............................L9.1.11, L10.2.11
paper quality, envelopes.................................L9.1.3
paper wrappers.................................................... L9.4
payment options ................................................. L8.2
FaxPost.........................................................L7.4.9
person-to-person delivery................................. L4.3
pictorial postcards ...........................................L9.2.7
plastic wrapping and covers ............................. L9.3
POP envelopes ..............................................L9.1.10
postage stamps.................................................L8.2.1
Postage Zone on envelope ............................L9.1.7
November 2005
Letter Post Guide
postal delivery officers
acceptance of mail by....................................L8.4
post-boxes ............................................................L8.3
postcard specification.........................................L9.2
postcards, beaded or tinselled ...................... L9.2.4
postcards, pictorial.......................................... L9.2.7
Postcode Squares ............................................ L9.1.6
postcards...................................................... L9.2.5
postcode.......................................... L10.1.5, L10.2.6
PreSort Letters....................................... L1.1.3, L6.4
Print Post................................................ L1.1.4, L6.3
printing of addresses ....................................... L10.2
printing on envelopes..................................... L9.1.7
printing on postcards ..................................... L9.2.6
private post-boxes........................................... L8.3.2
prohibitions..........................................................L8.5
proof of delivery.............................................. L3.3.5
proof of posting .............................................. L3.3.4
punctuation in addresses ............................. L10.2.9
Q
quality testing ................................................... L9.1.1
R
Refused Letters................................................. L11.0
Registered Post....................................................L3.3
Reply Paid letters.................................................L5.3
return address ................................................... L10.4
return to sender, Print Post .......................... L6.3.7
reusable envelopes .......................................... L9.1.9
S
same-State charges, PreSort Letters ............ L6.4.4
same-State charges, definition ...................... L8.1.2
scope, Letter Post ...............................................L8.1
sealing of envelopes...........................L2.2.2, L2.3.2
seasonal greeting cards.......................................L2.4
self-mailers............................................................L9.6
Service Zone on envelope............................. L9.1.7
size ......................................................see dimensions
Small Letter ............................................... L2.2, L6.1
T
testing the quality of envelopes and other
materials....................................................... L9.1.1
thoroughfare abbreviations......................... L10.1.9
transparent panel envelopes...... L9.1.11, L10.2.11
Letter Post Guide
77
U
Unaddressed Mail Service................................. L5.2
undeliverable mail............................................... L8.7
W
weight:
bulk letters ...................................................... L6.1
Extra Large Letter......................................... L6.1
Large Letter ..........................................L2.3, L6.1
Medium Letter............................................... L6.1
Print Post .....................................................L6.3.3
Small Letter ..........................................L2.2, L6.1
withdrawal from the post ................................. L8.8
wrappers:
paper ................................................................ L9.4
plastic............................................................... L9.3
Z
zip-fastened envelopes ...................................... L9.5
November 2005
78
Letter Post Guide
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November 2005
Letter Post Guide
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November 2005
Notes