JOSEPH SABA

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LGA Language Explorer

What languages are spoken in your suburb, and how has that changed over 15 years? An interactive explorer built on harmonised ABS Census data.

javascript public data data visualisation
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josephsaba.me/lga_languages.html
LGA Language Explorer project screenshot

The explorer makes suburb-level language, religion, and birthplace trends searchable across Australia using harmonised Census geography.

01 - The problem

Census geography changes make local trends hard to trust

Suburbs split, LGAs merge, and boundaries shift between Census years. A simple comparison can accidentally mix boundary change with real demographic change.

02 - What I built

A searchable local demographic report

I rebuilt the data from SA1 level using ABS correspondence files to harmonise 2011, 2016, and 2021 onto consistent boundaries, then added a projection layer for 2026.

03 - Walkthrough

From place search to local context

language explorer
LGA language explorer
Search. Pick any suburb or LGA and generate a local field report.
brisbane trend
Birthplace trend chart
Trend. The same data layer feeds deeper city-level analysis.

04 - Outcomes

What it covers

8,465

suburbs in the source geography

549

LGAs available for comparison

15 years

of harmonised Census trend data

2026

projection layer for near-term planning

Built with

JavaScript, harmonised ABS Census extracts, SA1 correspondence files, static JSON data, and a client-side search/report interface.

javascript abs census static json data harmonisation public dashboard

Keep exploring

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Joseph Saba — Builder & Analytics Consultant
© 2026 · Melbourne, Australia