Australian Electoral Commission
"socio-demographic" classifications
The AEC gives each seat what
they call a socio-demographic classification (though they're more like
geographic ones). You'll find their relevant page here.
Here's a copy and paste of their
explanation:
All divisions are
classified as being in 1 of 4 socio-demographic categories:
Metropolitan
(divisions located in capital cities)
-
inner metropolitan
- comprised of well established built up suburbs; or
-
outer metropolitan
- containing areas of more recent suburban expansion.
Non - metropolitan
(divisions located outside capital cities)
-
provincial -
divisions with a majority of enrolment in major provincial cities, or in
non-metropolitan urban conglomerates; or
-
rural - divisions
without a majority of enrolment in major provincial cities.
With only four, some arbitrariness is
inevitable. The lines between inner and outer metro, and
outer metro and rural or provincial, and provincial and rural can be in the eye of the beholder.
Nevertheless, they work well for
indicative purposes.
On pendulums and in tables, seats are given an R
(for rural), p (provincial) o
(outer metro) or i (inner metropolitan)
There are also two pendulums,
metropolitan and non-metropolitan