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 Golden Plains (S) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Golden Plains (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Golden Plains (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Golden Plains (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Australian
2021 count
11,123
% of total
22.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
11,123
22.3%
0.0pp
English
2021 count
10,315
% of total
20.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
10,315
20.7%
+0.2pp
Irish
2021 count
3,088
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
3,088
6.2%
+0.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
3,041
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,041
6.1%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
1,188
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,188
2.4%
-0.1pp
Dutch
2021 count
827
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
827
1.7%
+0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
801
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
801
1.6%
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
371
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
371
0.7%
+0.6pp
Maltese
2021 count
357
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
357
0.7%
+0.2pp
Croatian
2021 count
240
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
240
0.5%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+1,468
0.0pp
English
+1,439
+0.2pp
Irish
+538
+0.3pp
Scottish
+495
+0.2pp
German
+121
-0.1pp
Dutch
+183
+0.2pp
Italian
+181
+0.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+335
+0.6pp
Maltese
+150
+0.2pp
Croatian
+58
+0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Golden Plains (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 | |
| Australian | 11,123 | 22.3% | 19.6% | 9,655 | 22.3% | 20.0% | +1,468 | 0.0pp |
| English | 10,315 | 20.7% | 20.3% | 8,876 | 20.5% | 20.0% | +1,439 | +0.2pp |
| Irish | 3,088 | 6.2% | 6.4% | 2,550 | 5.9% | 6.5% | +538 | +0.3pp |
| Scottish | 3,041 | 6.1% | 5.8% | 2,546 | 5.9% | 5.7% | +495 | +0.2pp |
| German | 1,188 | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1,067 | 2.5% | 2.3% | +121 | -0.1pp |
| Dutch | 827 | 1.7% | 1.1% | 644 | 1.5% | 1.1% | +183 | +0.2pp |
| Italian | 801 | 1.6% | 1.9% | 620 | 1.4% | 1.8% | +181 | +0.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 371 | 0.7% | 1.0% | 36 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +335 | +0.6pp |
| Maltese | 357 | 0.7% | 0.3% | 207 | 0.5% | 0.3% | +150 | +0.2pp |
| Croatian | 240 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 182 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +58 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 49,943 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 43,350 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,593 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).