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 South Golden Beach were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
South Golden Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for South Golden Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Byron (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for South Golden Beach, with comparison markers for Byron (A).
English
2021 count
381
% of total
43.0%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
381
43.0%
+2.8pp
Australian
2021 count
275
% of total
31.0%
Change from 2016
-5.6pp
275
31.0%
-5.6pp
Irish
2021 count
161
% of total
18.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
161
18.2%
+0.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
111
% of total
12.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
111
12.5%
+1.4pp
German
2021 count
56
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
56
6.3%
-2.4pp
Italian
2021 count
26
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
26
2.9%
+0.4pp
French
2021 count
23
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
23
2.6%
+0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
22
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
22
2.5%
+2.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
21
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
21
2.4%
+0.8pp
New Zealander
2021 count
14
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
14
1.6%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+56
+2.8pp
Australian
-21
-5.6pp
Irish
+18
+0.5pp
Scottish
+21
+1.4pp
German
-14
-2.4pp
Italian
+6
+0.4pp
French
+8
+0.7pp
Australian Aboriginal
+19
+2.1pp
Dutch
+8
+0.8pp
New Zealander
+3
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for South Golden Beach. 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 | 381 | 43.0% | 40.3% | 325 | 40.2% | 39.2% | +56 | +2.8pp |
| Australian | 275 | 31.0% | 30.0% | 296 | 36.6% | 33.9% | -21 | -5.6pp |
| Irish | 161 | 18.2% | 15.3% | 143 | 17.7% | 14.8% | +18 | +0.5pp |
| Scottish | 111 | 12.5% | 12.0% | 90 | 11.1% | 11.2% | +21 | +1.4pp |
| German | 56 | 6.3% | 6.1% | 70 | 8.7% | 5.4% | -14 | -2.4pp |
| Italian | 26 | 2.9% | 4.2% | 20 | 2.5% | 2.8% | +6 | +0.4pp |
| French | 23 | 2.6% | 1.9% | 15 | 1.9% | 1.3% | +8 | +0.7pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 22 | 2.5% | 1.8% | 3 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +19 | +2.1pp |
| Dutch | 21 | 2.4% | 2.0% | 13 | 1.6% | 1.8% | +8 | +0.8pp |
| New Zealander | 14 | 1.6% | 0.9% | 11 | 1.4% | 1.0% | +3 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).