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 Bayview Heights were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bayview Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bayview Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bayview Heights, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
1,589
% of total
38.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,589
38.1%
+1.1pp
Australian
2021 count
1,469
% of total
35.2%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
1,469
35.2%
-3.1pp
Irish
2021 count
577
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
577
13.8%
-0.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
487
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
487
11.7%
+1.9pp
Italian
2021 count
314
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
314
7.5%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
254
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
254
6.1%
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
187
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
187
4.5%
+3.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
84
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
84
2.0%
+0.3pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
80
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
80
1.9%
+1.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
73
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
73
1.7%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+23
+1.1pp
Australian
-156
-3.1pp
Irish
-24
-0.4pp
Scottish
+71
+1.9pp
Italian
-11
-0.2pp
German
+1
+0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+162
+3.9pp
Chinese
+14
+0.3pp
Torres Strait Islander
+62
+1.5pp
Dutch
+24
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bayview Heights. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,589 | 38.1% | 34.4% | 1,566 | 37.0% | 35.1% | +23 | +1.1pp |
| Australian | 1,469 | 35.2% | 30.0% | 1,625 | 38.3% | 34.6% | -156 | -3.1pp |
| Irish | 577 | 13.8% | 10.5% | 601 | 14.2% | 11.6% | -24 | -0.4pp |
| Scottish | 487 | 11.7% | 9.3% | 416 | 9.8% | 9.4% | +71 | +1.9pp |
| Italian | 314 | 7.5% | 5.0% | 325 | 7.7% | 4.8% | -11 | -0.2pp |
| German | 254 | 6.1% | 5.2% | 253 | 6.0% | 5.4% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 187 | 4.5% | 7.1% | 25 | 0.6% | 1.2% | +162 | +3.9pp |
| Chinese | 84 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 70 | 1.7% | 2.1% | +14 | +0.3pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 80 | 1.9% | 4.3% | 18 | 0.4% | 1.0% | +62 | +1.5pp |
| Dutch | 73 | 1.7% | 1.6% | 49 | 1.2% | 1.6% | +24 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).