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 Walkerston were Australian, English and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Walkerston - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Walkerston in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Walkerston, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Australian
2021 count
1,487
% of total
41.1%
Change from 2016
-6.7pp
1,487
41.1%
-6.7pp
English
2021 count
1,423
% of total
39.4%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
1,423
39.4%
+2.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
442
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
442
12.2%
+2.2pp
Irish
2021 count
358
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
358
9.9%
-0.4pp
German
2021 count
266
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
266
7.4%
+0.8pp
Maltese
2021 count
210
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
210
5.8%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
130
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
130
3.6%
+3.3pp
Italian
2021 count
116
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
116
3.2%
-0.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
49
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
49
1.4%
+0.3pp
Filipino
2021 count
44
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
44
1.2%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-140
-6.7pp
English
+181
+2.9pp
Scottish
+100
+2.2pp
Irish
+9
-0.4pp
German
+43
+0.8pp
Maltese
+12
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+119
+3.3pp
Italian
+1
-0.2pp
Dutch
+13
+0.3pp
Filipino
0
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Walkerston. 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 | 1,487 | 41.1% | 38.3% | 1,627 | 47.8% | 41.3% | -140 | -6.7pp |
| English | 1,423 | 39.4% | 38.0% | 1,242 | 36.5% | 38.0% | +181 | +2.9pp |
| Scottish | 442 | 12.2% | 10.3% | 342 | 10.0% | 10.9% | +100 | +2.2pp |
| Irish | 358 | 9.9% | 10.4% | 349 | 10.3% | 11.7% | +9 | -0.4pp |
| German | 266 | 7.4% | 6.2% | 223 | 6.6% | 6.6% | +43 | +0.8pp |
| Maltese | 210 | 5.8% | 3.2% | 198 | 5.8% | 3.1% | +12 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 130 | 3.6% | 4.8% | 11 | 0.3% | 0.5% | +119 | +3.3pp |
| Italian | 116 | 3.2% | 3.2% | 115 | 3.4% | 3.0% | +1 | -0.2pp |
| Dutch | 49 | 1.4% | 1.4% | 36 | 1.1% | 1.3% | +13 | +0.3pp |
| Filipino | 44 | 1.2% | 2.0% | 44 | 1.3% | 1.7% | 0 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).