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 Upper Ferntree Gully (part) were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Upper Ferntree Gully (part) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Upper Ferntree Gully (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Upper Ferntree Gully (part), with comparison markers for Knox (C).
English
2021 count
1,411
% of total
20.7%
Change from 2016
+5.4pp
1,411
20.7%
+5.4pp
Australian
2021 count
1,322
% of total
19.4%
Change from 2016
+6.3pp
1,322
19.4%
+6.3pp
Irish
2021 count
439
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
439
6.4%
+1.0pp
Scottish
2021 count
426
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
426
6.2%
+1.9pp
German
2021 count
234
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
234
3.4%
+1.7pp
Dutch
2021 count
133
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
133
1.9%
+1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
125
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
125
1.8%
-0.2pp
Greek
2021 count
67
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
67
1.0%
-0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
58
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
58
0.8%
+0.3pp
Chinese
2021 count
54
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-7.9pp
54
0.8%
-7.9pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-1,782
+5.4pp
Australian
-1,417
+6.3pp
Irish
-694
+1.0pp
Scottish
-480
+1.9pp
German
-123
+1.7pp
Dutch
-34
+1.1pp
Italian
-303
-0.2pp
Greek
-163
-0.1pp
Polish
-52
+0.3pp
Chinese
-1,765
-7.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Upper Ferntree Gully (part). 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 | 1,411 | 20.7% | 14.8% | 3,193 | 15.3% | 15.7% | -1,782 | +5.4pp |
| Australian | 1,322 | 19.4% | 13.9% | 2,739 | 13.1% | 14.6% | -1,417 | +6.3pp |
| Irish | 439 | 6.4% | 4.0% | 1,133 | 5.4% | 4.6% | -694 | +1.0pp |
| Scottish | 426 | 6.2% | 3.9% | 906 | 4.3% | 4.1% | -480 | +1.9pp |
| German | 234 | 3.4% | 1.9% | 357 | 1.7% | 2.0% | -123 | +1.7pp |
| Dutch | 133 | 1.9% | 1.2% | 167 | 0.8% | 1.2% | -34 | +1.1pp |
| Italian | 125 | 1.8% | 2.4% | 428 | 2.0% | 2.4% | -303 | -0.2pp |
| Greek | 67 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 230 | 1.1% | 1.1% | -163 | -0.1pp |
| Polish | 58 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 110 | 0.5% | 0.5% | -52 | +0.3pp |
| Chinese | 54 | 0.8% | 7.0% | 1,819 | 8.7% | 5.6% | -1,765 | -7.9pp |
| Total | 6,831 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 20,907 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -14,076 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).