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 Holloways Beach were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Holloways Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Holloways Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Holloways Beach, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
2021 count
928
% of total
38.7%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
928
38.7%
-1.8pp
Australian
2021 count
712
% of total
29.7%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
712
29.7%
-2.9pp
Irish
2021 count
346
% of total
14.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
346
14.4%
+1.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
308
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
308
12.8%
+1.0pp
German
2021 count
154
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
154
6.4%
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
109
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
109
4.5%
+4.0pp
Italian
2021 count
83
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
83
3.5%
-0.6pp
Dutch
2021 count
74
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
74
3.1%
+1.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
53
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
53
2.2%
+1.9pp
Japanese
2021 count
33
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
33
1.4%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-23
-1.8pp
Australian
-53
-2.9pp
Irish
+36
+1.2pp
Scottish
+32
+1.0pp
German
-2
-0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+97
+4.0pp
Italian
-14
-0.6pp
Dutch
+27
+1.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
+45
+1.9pp
Japanese
+12
+0.5pp
Data table
Ancestry for Holloways Beach. 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 | 928 | 38.7% | 34.4% | 951 | 40.5% | 35.1% | -23 | -1.8pp |
| Australian | 712 | 29.7% | 30.0% | 765 | 32.6% | 34.6% | -53 | -2.9pp |
| Irish | 346 | 14.4% | 10.5% | 310 | 13.2% | 11.6% | +36 | +1.2pp |
| Scottish | 308 | 12.8% | 9.3% | 276 | 11.8% | 9.4% | +32 | +1.0pp |
| German | 154 | 6.4% | 5.2% | 156 | 6.6% | 5.4% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 109 | 4.5% | 7.1% | 12 | 0.5% | 1.2% | +97 | +4.0pp |
| Italian | 83 | 3.5% | 5.0% | 97 | 4.1% | 4.8% | -14 | -0.6pp |
| Dutch | 74 | 3.1% | 1.6% | 47 | 2.0% | 1.6% | +27 | +1.1pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 53 | 2.2% | 4.3% | 8 | 0.3% | 1.0% | +45 | +1.9pp |
| Japanese | 33 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 21 | 0.9% | 1.6% | +12 | +0.5pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).