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 Central Goldfields (S) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Central Goldfields (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Central Goldfields (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Central Goldfields (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
English
2021 count
6,162
% of total
22.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
6,162
22.9%
+0.8pp
Australian
2021 count
5,661
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
5,661
21.0%
-1.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
1,586
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,586
5.9%
+0.3pp
Irish
2021 count
1,518
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,518
5.6%
-0.1pp
German
2021 count
489
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
489
1.8%
+0.1pp
Italian
2021 count
358
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
358
1.3%
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
280
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
280
1.0%
+0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
229
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
229
0.9%
+0.1pp
Chinese
2021 count
112
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
112
0.4%
0.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
104
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
104
0.4%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+418
+0.8pp
Australian
-70
-1.1pp
Scottish
+131
+0.3pp
Irish
+41
-0.1pp
German
+52
+0.1pp
Italian
+1
-0.1pp
Australian Aboriginal
+257
+0.9pp
Dutch
+27
+0.1pp
Chinese
+4
0.0pp
Filipino
+26
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Central Goldfields (S). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| English | 6,162 | 22.9% | 20.3% | 5,744 | 22.1% | 20.0% | +418 | +0.8pp |
| Australian | 5,661 | 21.0% | 19.6% | 5,731 | 22.1% | 20.0% | -70 | -1.1pp |
| Scottish | 1,586 | 5.9% | 5.8% | 1,455 | 5.6% | 5.7% | +131 | +0.3pp |
| Irish | 1,518 | 5.6% | 6.4% | 1,477 | 5.7% | 6.5% | +41 | -0.1pp |
| German | 489 | 1.8% | 2.3% | 437 | 1.7% | 2.3% | +52 | +0.1pp |
| Italian | 358 | 1.3% | 1.9% | 357 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 280 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 23 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +257 | +0.9pp |
| Dutch | 229 | 0.9% | 1.1% | 202 | 0.8% | 1.1% | +27 | +0.1pp |
| Chinese | 112 | 0.4% | 0.6% | 108 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Filipino | 104 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 78 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +26 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 26,941 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 25,989 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +952 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).