Cultural diversity
Ancestry
About this topic
Ancestry describes a person's cultural association and ethnic background, and Census respondents can report more than one ancestry. It is a broader cultural measure than country of birth because it can reflect family heritage across generations.
This topic helps show the size and diversity of cultural groups in an area, including groups whose members were born in Australia. Because multiple ancestries can be reported, ancestry totals can exceed the total population, so it is best read with birthplace, language used at home, and religion.
Interpretation notes
- People can report up to two ancestries, so category totals represent responses rather than a single unduplicated person count.
- ABS advises that ancestry is best used with birthplace and language, because ancestry alone is a broad measure of ethnicity and cultural background.
- The 2021 form added separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mark boxes, so those categories need caution in over-time comparison.
Key insight
In 2021, the largest ancestry groups among residents in Mount Melville were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Mount Melville - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Mount Melville in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Albany (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Melville, with comparison markers for Albany (C).
English
2021 count
497
% of total
25.2%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
497
25.2%
+2.3pp
Australian
2021 count
335
% of total
17.0%
Change from 2016
-
335
17.0%
-
Irish
2021 count
126
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
-
126
6.4%
-
Scottish
2021 count
125
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-16.6pp
125
6.3%
-16.6pp
Italian
2021 count
60
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-
60
3.0%
-
German
2021 count
59
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-
59
3.0%
-
Dutch
2021 count
40
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-
40
2.0%
-
New Zealander
2021 count
23
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-
23
1.2%
-
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
22
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
22
1.1%
-
Chinese
2021 count
14
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-
14
0.7%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+489
+2.3pp
Scottish
+117
-16.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Mount Melville. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Albany (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Albany (C)% | Count | % | Albany (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 497 | 25.2% | 23.6% | 8 | 22.9% | 23.7% | +489 | +2.3pp |
| Australian | 335 | 17.0% | 19.9% | - | - | 19.9% | - | - |
| Irish | 126 | 6.4% | 4.3% | - | - | 4.4% | - | - |
| Scottish | 125 | 6.3% | 5.0% | 8 | 22.9% | 5.0% | +117 | -16.6pp |
| Italian | 60 | 3.0% | 1.8% | - | - | 1.6% | - | - |
| German | 59 | 3.0% | 1.9% | - | - | 1.9% | - | - |
| Dutch | 40 | 2.0% | 1.8% | - | - | 1.8% | - | - |
| New Zealander | 23 | 1.2% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Australian Aboriginal | 22 | 1.1% | 1.6% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Chinese | 14 | 0.7% | 0.4% | - | - | 0.4% | - | - |
| Total | 1,971 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 35 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,936 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).