Australians have voted in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry in a landmark national survey.
The Yes vote triumphed with 61.6 per cent of the vote, while 38.4 per cent voted No.
The vote in favour of changing the law had the majority in every state and territory, but was strongest in the Australian Capital Territory.
The results of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey were announced on Wednesday morning by the head of the Australian Bureau of Statistics David Kalisch, ending a divisive three-month campaign.
Despite some early criticisms that the use of the postal system would make the survey inaccessible, an overwhelming 79.5 per cent of Australian voters did participate, in what the Chief Statistician called an "outstanding" turnout.
Women responded in greater numbers than men at 81.6 per cent and 77.3 per cent respectively.
Young voters also turned out in strong numbers with 78 per cent of those aged 18-19 and 72 per cent of those aged 20-24 made it to a post office with their completed forms.
At the other end of the spectrum, 80 per cent of Australians older than 85 voted.
Same-sex marriage will now almost certainly be legalised in Australia through a change to the Marriage Act.
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