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 Gagebrook were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Gagebrook - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Gagebrook in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brighton (M) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gagebrook, with comparison markers for Brighton (M).
Australian
2021 count
761
% of total
48.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
761
48.4%
-0.4pp
English
2021 count
659
% of total
41.9%
Change from 2016
-4.4pp
659
41.9%
-4.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
323
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
+19.8pp
323
20.5%
+19.8pp
Irish
2021 count
74
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
74
4.7%
-2.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
62
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
62
3.9%
-0.6pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
46
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
46
2.9%
+2.7pp
German
2021 count
21
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
21
1.3%
-1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
10
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-
10
0.6%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+59
-0.4pp
English
-7
-4.4pp
Australian Aboriginal
+313
+19.8pp
Irish
-25
-2.2pp
Scottish
-3
-0.6pp
Torres Strait Islander
+43
+2.7pp
German
-14
-1.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Gagebrook. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brighton (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brighton (M)% | Count | % | Brighton (M)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 761 | 48.4% | 45.8% | 702 | 48.8% | 49.6% | +59 | -0.4pp |
| English | 659 | 41.9% | 44.7% | 666 | 46.3% | 44.9% | -7 | -4.4pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 323 | 20.5% | 9.9% | 10 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +313 | +19.8pp |
| Irish | 74 | 4.7% | 7.8% | 99 | 6.9% | 9.1% | -25 | -2.2pp |
| Scottish | 62 | 3.9% | 6.3% | 65 | 4.5% | 5.9% | -3 | -0.6pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 46 | 2.9% | 1.0% | 3 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +43 | +2.7pp |
| German | 21 | 1.3% | 3.0% | 35 | 2.4% | 2.9% | -14 | -1.1pp |
| Italian | 10 | 0.6% | 1.4% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).