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 Hillcrest (Tas.) were Australian, English and Scottish.

Section overview

Ancestry - Ranked by size

Hillcrest (Tas.) - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises ancestry for Hillcrest (Tas.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Burnie (C) and change since 2016.

Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Hillcrest (Tas.), with comparison markers for Burnie (C).

Hillcrest (Tas.)
Burnie (C)

Australian

2021 count

503

% of total

23.2%

Change from 2016

+9.8pp

English

2021 count

455

% of total

21.0%

Change from 2016

+3.5pp

Scottish

2021 count

103

% of total

4.8%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Irish

2021 count

90

% of total

4.2%

Change from 2016

-1.7pp

Australian Aboriginal

2021 count

85

% of total

3.9%

Change from 2016

+3.8pp

German

2021 count

45

% of total

2.1%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Filipino

2021 count

21

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Italian

2021 count

14

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Dutch

2021 count

12

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Data table

Ancestry for Hillcrest (Tas.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Burnie (C).

Ancestry for Hillcrest (Tas.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Burnie (C).
Ancestry for Hillcrest (Tas.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Burnie (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Burnie (C)%Count%Burnie (C)%Countpp
Australian50323.2%23.1%60813.4%24.0%-105+9.8pp
English45521.0%21.5%79617.5%22.5%-341+3.5pp
Scottish1034.8%4.6%2004.4%4.4%-97+0.4pp
Irish904.2%4.7%2705.9%5.2%-180-1.7pp
Australian Aboriginal853.9%3.8%60.1%0.2%+79+3.8pp
German452.1%1.7%771.7%1.7%-32+0.4pp
Filipino211.0%0.3%60.1%0.2%+15+0.9pp
Italian140.6%0.4%581.3%0.4%-44-0.7pp
Dutch120.6%0.8%380.8%0.6%-26-0.2pp
Total2,167100.0%100.0%4,544100.0%100.0%-2,3770.0pp

Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).