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 Rock Forest were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Rock Forest - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Rock Forest in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Bathurst Regional (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rock Forest, with comparison markers for Bathurst Regional (A).
Australian
2021 count
75
% of total
25.8%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
75
25.8%
-1.2pp
English
2021 count
66
% of total
22.7%
Change from 2016
+5.0pp
66
22.7%
+5.0pp
Irish
2021 count
20
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
20
6.9%
+1.8pp
Scottish
2021 count
15
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
15
5.2%
-3.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-9
-1.2pp
English
+11
+5.0pp
Irish
+4
+1.8pp
Scottish
-11
-3.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Rock Forest. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Bathurst Regional (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Bathurst Regional (A)% | Count | % | Bathurst Regional (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 75 | 25.8% | 21.1% | 84 | 27.0% | 21.6% | -9 | -1.2pp |
| English | 66 | 22.7% | 20.5% | 55 | 17.7% | 20.3% | +11 | +5.0pp |
| Irish | 20 | 6.9% | 7.2% | 16 | 5.1% | 7.6% | +4 | +1.8pp |
| Scottish | 15 | 5.2% | 5.3% | 26 | 8.4% | 5.2% | -11 | -3.2pp |
| Total | 291 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 311 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -20 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).