Useful links

Can't quite find what you need here?  Here's a link to other demographic and population resources in Australia. You can also find links to other blogs and pages I follow.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

General population data

The ABS is Australia's official statistical agency and they produce a wealth of demographic and other data. However, it's a huge site and not particularly user friendly for the novice. These links will direct you to the most useful pages for population data.

Australian Demographic Statistics (Cat. no. 3101.0) - released quarterly, contains data on the population of Australia, States and Territories
Regional Population Growth (Cat. no. 3218.0) - released annually, contains data on sub-State ERPs.  Very useful for populations of smaller areas such as LGAs.
Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia (Cat. no. 3235.0) - released annually, same data as 3218.0 but with age and sex.  
Births, Australia (Cat. no. 3301.0) - released annually, contains data on the number of births by area
Deaths, Australia (Cat. no. 3302.0) - really annually, contains data on the number of deaths by area
Australian Historical Population Statistics (Cat. no. 3105.0.65.001) - released irregularly, last one was 2014.  If you want historical data on demographic indicators, this is the data source for you.

Census data

The Census of Population and Housing is the ABS's largest collection and has its own section on the ABS website, which can be accessed here. If you're after data for an area, I would recommend conducting a Quickstats search which provides a wealth of data. If you still can't find what you're looking for then you can search for a community profile, which can be downloaded to your computer in Excel format.

State Government departments

Most State Government planning departments have internal research units that undertake demographic analysis and produce population projections. There is no release timetable for work undertaken by the various State Government departments across Australia.  

NSW - Department of Planning and Environment
Victoria - Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning (DEWLP)
Queensland - Government Statistician's Office
South Australia - via the SA Planning Portal
Western Australia - Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH)

Academia and private sector

Charles Darwin University - Northern Institute produces the Demography North blog, which focuses on demographic issues related to the Northern Territory.

University of Adelaide - Hugo Centre for Migration and Population Research - named for the late Graeme Hugo, an emminent Australian demographer and geographer.

.id - the population experts produce a large amount of data aimed primarily at the local government sector including community profiles, social atlas, population forecasts and economic data. .id also produces a blog focussing on demographic and housing issues.

Demographic Solutions - specialists in small area demographic forecasting.

Spatial Economics - producers of Housing Development Data (HDD)