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 Campwin Beach were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Campwin Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Campwin Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Campwin Beach, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Australian
2021 count
215
% of total
42.1%
Change from 2016
-5.7pp
215
42.1%
-5.7pp
English
2021 count
209
% of total
40.9%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
209
40.9%
+2.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
60
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
60
11.7%
+1.3pp
Irish
2021 count
53
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
53
10.4%
+0.3pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
47
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
-
47
9.2%
-
German
2021 count
20
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
20
3.9%
-2.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
15
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
15
2.9%
+1.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-32
-5.7pp
English
+9
+2.2pp
Scottish
+6
+1.3pp
Irish
+1
+0.3pp
German
-15
-2.9pp
Dutch
+6
+1.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Campwin Beach. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 215 | 42.1% | 38.3% | 247 | 47.8% | 41.3% | -32 | -5.7pp |
| English | 209 | 40.9% | 38.0% | 200 | 38.7% | 38.0% | +9 | +2.2pp |
| Scottish | 60 | 11.7% | 10.3% | 54 | 10.4% | 10.9% | +6 | +1.3pp |
| Irish | 53 | 10.4% | 10.4% | 52 | 10.1% | 11.7% | +1 | +0.3pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 47 | 9.2% | 4.8% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| German | 20 | 3.9% | 6.2% | 35 | 6.8% | 6.6% | -15 | -2.9pp |
| Dutch | 15 | 2.9% | 1.4% | 9 | 1.7% | 1.3% | +6 | +1.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).