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 Victoria Plains were Australian, English and Maltese.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Victoria Plains - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Victoria Plains in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Victoria Plains, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Australian
2021 count
152
% of total
45.0%
Change from 2016
-4.5pp
152
45.0%
-4.5pp
English
2021 count
123
% of total
36.4%
Change from 2016
+7.8pp
123
36.4%
+7.8pp
Maltese
2021 count
42
% of total
12.4%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
42
12.4%
+1.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
40
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
40
11.8%
-2.2pp
German
2021 count
30
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
30
8.9%
+1.5pp
Irish
2021 count
29
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
29
8.6%
-3.8pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-28
-4.5pp
English
+19
+7.8pp
Maltese
+2
+1.4pp
Scottish
-11
-2.2pp
German
+3
+1.5pp
Irish
-16
-3.8pp
Data table
Ancestry for Victoria Plains. 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 | 152 | 45.0% | 38.3% | 180 | 49.5% | 41.3% | -28 | -4.5pp |
| English | 123 | 36.4% | 38.0% | 104 | 28.6% | 38.0% | +19 | +7.8pp |
| Maltese | 42 | 12.4% | 3.2% | 40 | 11.0% | 3.1% | +2 | +1.4pp |
| Scottish | 40 | 11.8% | 10.3% | 51 | 14.0% | 10.9% | -11 | -2.2pp |
| German | 30 | 8.9% | 6.2% | 27 | 7.4% | 6.6% | +3 | +1.5pp |
| Irish | 29 | 8.6% | 10.4% | 45 | 12.4% | 11.7% | -16 | -3.8pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).