Where .au domains come from and how the industry works

by Chirpy Domains 2 min read

If you’re about to register your first .au domain name, congratulations! This is an exciting step towards building your online presence. But before you pick a name and hit “buy,” it helps to understand how the Australian domain name industry works and why prices and services can vary.

At the heart of the .au domain system is auDA (the .au Domain Administration), the organisation responsible for managing Australia’s domain namespace. Think of auDA as the official guardian of all .au domains. They set the rules for who can register a domain, how disputes are handled, and what standards need to be met.

However, auDA doesn’t sell domains directly to the public. Instead, they accredit registrars—companies authorised to register domains on behalf of customers. These registrars connect directly to the registry that holds the master database of all .au domains. On top of that, there are resellers and retailers who partner with registrars to make domain names available through their own websites. Many web hosting companies, IT service providers, and online agencies are actually resellers. That includes us here at Chirpy Domains. While we focus on what we do best, like keeping prices low and doing one thing well, our supplier deals directly with auDA’s technical and regulatory requirements. This layered system is common throughout the world.

Any .au retailer, whether a reseller or registrar, can sell you any available .au domain. So why do prices differ so much between retailers? Every registrar or reseller sets their own pricing. Some keep costs low while offering everything you need to run an operational domain, while others bundle in extras that you may or may not want. auDA’s system of registrar accreditation, and the reseller network that exists downstream of that, ensures that every single retailer offers a legal and compliant service. That’s why it’s important to shop around and compare prices before you register your domain. Buying your .au domain name doesn’t have to be complicated. Once you know who’s who—auDA as the overseer, registrars as the official suppliers, and retailers as your point of contact—you’ll feel more confident making a choice. Get started by searching for your new .au domain now.