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 Bolwarra Heights were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bolwarra Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bolwarra Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bolwarra Heights, with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
Australian
2021 count
1,589
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
1,589
23.2%
+1.7pp
English
2021 count
1,576
% of total
23.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,576
23.0%
-0.1pp
Irish
2021 count
401
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
401
5.9%
-2.4pp
Scottish
2021 count
397
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
397
5.8%
-2.2pp
German
2021 count
157
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
157
2.3%
-0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
131
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
131
1.9%
+1.5pp
Italian
2021 count
51
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
51
0.7%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
49
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
49
0.7%
0.0pp
Welsh
2021 count
37
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
37
0.5%
+0.1pp
Polish
2021 count
33
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
33
0.5%
0.0pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+1,164
+1.7pp
English
+1,120
-0.1pp
Irish
+238
-2.4pp
Scottish
+239
-2.2pp
German
+102
-0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+124
+1.5pp
Italian
+38
0.0pp
Dutch
+35
0.0pp
Welsh
+30
+0.1pp
Polish
+24
0.0pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bolwarra Heights. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 1,589 | 23.2% | 22.2% | 425 | 21.5% | 22.8% | +1,164 | +1.7pp |
| English | 1,576 | 23.0% | 21.5% | 456 | 23.1% | 21.9% | +1,120 | -0.1pp |
| Irish | 401 | 5.9% | 5.3% | 163 | 8.3% | 6.2% | +238 | -2.4pp |
| Scottish | 397 | 5.8% | 5.2% | 158 | 8.0% | 5.4% | +239 | -2.2pp |
| German | 157 | 2.3% | 2.2% | 55 | 2.8% | 2.4% | +102 | -0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 131 | 1.9% | 3.6% | 7 | 0.4% | 0.3% | +124 | +1.5pp |
| Italian | 51 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 13 | 0.7% | 0.7% | +38 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 49 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 14 | 0.7% | 0.6% | +35 | 0.0pp |
| Welsh | 37 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 7 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +30 | +0.1pp |
| Polish | 33 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 9 | 0.5% | 0.5% | +24 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 6,851 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,974 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,877 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).