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 The Basin (Vic.) were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
The Basin (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for The Basin (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for The Basin (Vic.), with comparison markers for Knox (C).
English
2021 count
1,947
% of total
21.7%
Change from 2016
+8.3pp
1,947
21.7%
+8.3pp
Australian
2021 count
1,711
% of total
19.0%
Change from 2016
+7.3pp
1,711
19.0%
+7.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
547
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
547
6.1%
+1.5pp
Irish
2021 count
494
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
494
5.5%
-1.4pp
German
2021 count
312
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
312
3.5%
+2.0pp
Italian
2021 count
182
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
182
2.0%
-4.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
175
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
175
1.9%
+1.2pp
Chinese
2021 count
94
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
94
1.0%
-0.7pp
Welsh
2021 count
51
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
51
0.6%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
46
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
46
0.5%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-3,032
+8.3pp
Australian
-2,643
+7.3pp
Scottish
-1,148
+1.5pp
Irish
-2,051
-1.4pp
German
-262
+2.0pp
Italian
-2,105
-4.2pp
Dutch
-93
+1.2pp
Chinese
-520
-0.7pp
Welsh
-65
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
+25
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for The Basin (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,947 | 21.7% | 14.8% | 4,979 | 13.4% | 15.7% | -3,032 | +8.3pp |
| Australian | 1,711 | 19.0% | 13.9% | 4,354 | 11.7% | 14.6% | -2,643 | +7.3pp |
| Scottish | 547 | 6.1% | 3.9% | 1,695 | 4.6% | 4.1% | -1,148 | +1.5pp |
| Irish | 494 | 5.5% | 4.0% | 2,545 | 6.9% | 4.6% | -2,051 | -1.4pp |
| German | 312 | 3.5% | 1.9% | 574 | 1.5% | 2.0% | -262 | +2.0pp |
| Italian | 182 | 2.0% | 2.4% | 2,287 | 6.2% | 2.4% | -2,105 | -4.2pp |
| Dutch | 175 | 1.9% | 1.2% | 268 | 0.7% | 1.2% | -93 | +1.2pp |
| Chinese | 94 | 1.0% | 7.0% | 614 | 1.7% | 5.6% | -520 | -0.7pp |
| Welsh | 51 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 116 | 0.3% | 0.3% | -65 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 46 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 21 | 0.1% | 0.0% | +25 | +0.4pp |
| Total | 8,982 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 37,111 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -28,129 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).