The first national census in 1911 helped find a link, decades later, between deaf and mute children and the Rubella virus. It is the collection of this type of data that helps individuals, communities and Australia as a whole that is being celebrated with the launch of a coin of the 100 year anniversary of the Census.
Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten today officially launched a new collectible $1 coin to mark 100 years of national Census taking in Australia.
"Right from the beginning, the Census has been an important compass in assisting the Government map the nation and navigate Australia's future," Mr Shorten said.
"This coin allows the tens of thousands of people who have worked on the Census to have a memento of their working to shaping the nation's future."
The release of this coin coincides with the national launch of the Census of Population and Housing on Tuesday 9 August 2011.
"As both the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Royal Australian Mint (the Mint) fall within my portfolio responsibilities as Assistant Treasurer, it's good to see these great Australian institutions working together to commemorate an event of such national significance," Mr Shorten said.
The coin design, developed by the Mint and ABS designers, features a bar graph of horizontally stacked different faces, which represent the individuals that make up population figures collected by the Census.
The 2011 Census logo, which is the shape of Australia in a stylised ribbon form, is also featured, along with a long standing ABS employee and his wife on the coin packaging.
For more information regarding the 2011 Census please visit www.abs.gov.au/census or contact the Census Inquiry Service on 1300 338 776.
For more information about the 100 Years of Census 2011 $1 uncirculated coin please visit www.ramint.gov.au or contact the Royal Australian Mint Call Centre on 1300 652 020.
A print-quality JPG file of the coin is available on the Royal Australian Mint website.