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 Possum Creek were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Possum Creek - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Possum Creek in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Byron (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Possum Creek, with comparison markers for Byron (A).
English
2021 count
110
% of total
39.7%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
110
39.7%
-3.3pp
Australian
2021 count
91
% of total
32.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
91
32.9%
-0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
32
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
32
11.6%
-0.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
30
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
30
10.8%
-1.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
13
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
13
4.7%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-12
-3.3pp
Australian
-3
-0.2pp
Irish
-3
-0.7pp
Scottish
-5
-1.5pp
Dutch
+2
+0.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Possum Creek. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Byron (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Byron (A)% | Count | % | Byron (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 110 | 39.7% | 40.3% | 122 | 43.0% | 39.2% | -12 | -3.3pp |
| Australian | 91 | 32.9% | 30.0% | 94 | 33.1% | 33.9% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| Irish | 32 | 11.6% | 15.3% | 35 | 12.3% | 14.8% | -3 | -0.7pp |
| Scottish | 30 | 10.8% | 12.0% | 35 | 12.3% | 11.2% | -5 | -1.5pp |
| Dutch | 13 | 4.7% | 2.0% | 11 | 3.9% | 1.8% | +2 | +0.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).