According to the last Census, there are 105 people in Australia who speak a made-up language at home.
Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten said "I'm not sure what made up languages people are speaking, but I'm pretty sure that question wasn't asked one hundred years ago, when the first national Census was completed in 1911."
"It is my very great pleasure today, 100 years after the first national Census, to launch the 2011 Census of Population and Housing, which will take place on Tuesday 9 August 2011."
In 1911 Australia's population was almost four and a half million people.
Andrew Fisher was Prime Minister.
The average weekly income was four pounds 13 shillings.
A century on, and our population is just over 22 and a half million.
We have our first female Prime Minister and the average family weekly income is $1171.
"The Census gives us a snapshot of who we are as a nation. It sheds light on our communities, towns, cities and homes. It also allows us to see where we have come from as a nation and helps us navigate our way into the future."
The Census is the largest peace-time operation in Australia. This year 29,000 Collectors will leave no stone unturned to get an accurate count of everyone in Australia on Census night.
Teams of fly-in fly-out Census workers have been arranged to reach some of Australia's most remote communities; staff and passengers on international cruise ships and tankers docked in Australian waters will be counted; and forms have been shipped to scientists working at Australia's Antarctic Stations.
In all, 14.2 million Census forms will be delivered to Australia's 9.8 million households. More than 46 million pages of data will then be transported and processed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The Census is also changing with the times. This year some 30 per cent of the population are expected to fill out their forms online using eCensus, a fast, easy and secure alternative to the traditional forms.
"I encourage everyone in Australia on Census night to take part, and help ensure this 16th national Census is as successful as the first national Census 100 years ago," Mr Shorten said.
The 2011 Census will be officially launched in Sydney tonight.
More information is available online at www.abs.gov.au/census
Key Census dates
28 July 2011 – eCensus opens to the public
29 July 2011 – Distribution of Census forms begins
9 August 2011 – Census night
From 10 August – Collection of Census forms
June 2012 – The first results from the 2011 Census will be released.