An epidemiological survey of all primary central nervous system tumours in Australia was commenced in 1986. Cases were reported by the treating physician to the Australian Brain Tumour Register, located at the Victorian Cancer Registry. Ninety‐three per cent of tumours were histologically confirmed and 69% were reviewed by an independent pathology panel. During the initial 3 years of the survey a total of 4577 brain tumours and 266 primary spinal cord tumours were reported to the Register. The age standardized rates for malignant tumours of the central nervous system, sum to 5.0/100000 males and 3.4/100000 females.Twenty‐eight per cent of gliomas were biopsied only. Radiotherapy was administered to 57% of cerebral gliomas and 2% of these tumours were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Forty per cent of meningiomas were considered to have had a complete tumour resect