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 Bonnie Doon (Vic.) were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bonnie Doon (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bonnie Doon (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mansfield (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bonnie Doon (Vic.), with comparison markers for Mansfield (S).
Australian
2021 count
297
% of total
44.6%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
297
44.6%
+1.8pp
English
2021 count
227
% of total
34.1%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
227
34.1%
-3.3pp
Irish
2021 count
98
% of total
14.7%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
98
14.7%
+5.2pp
Scottish
2021 count
71
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
71
10.7%
-1.4pp
German
2021 count
34
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
34
5.1%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
25
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
25
3.8%
+1.5pp
Dutch
2021 count
21
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
21
3.2%
-0.5pp
Greek
2021 count
14
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-
14
2.1%
-
Polish
2021 count
14
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
14
2.1%
+1.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
12
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
12
1.8%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+53
+1.8pp
English
+14
-3.3pp
Irish
+44
+5.2pp
Scottish
+2
-1.4pp
German
+3
-0.3pp
Italian
+12
+1.5pp
Dutch
0
-0.5pp
Polish
+11
+1.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bonnie Doon (Vic.). Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mansfield (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mansfield (S)% | Count | % | Mansfield (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 297 | 44.6% | 39.1% | 244 | 42.8% | 39.9% | +53 | +1.8pp |
| English | 227 | 34.1% | 42.2% | 213 | 37.4% | 41.7% | +14 | -3.3pp |
| Irish | 98 | 14.7% | 14.3% | 54 | 9.5% | 14.6% | +44 | +5.2pp |
| Scottish | 71 | 10.7% | 13.0% | 69 | 12.1% | 12.3% | +2 | -1.4pp |
| German | 34 | 5.1% | 5.3% | 31 | 5.4% | 5.1% | +3 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 25 | 3.8% | 2.6% | 13 | 2.3% | 2.4% | +12 | +1.5pp |
| Dutch | 21 | 3.2% | 2.5% | 21 | 3.7% | 2.2% | 0 | -0.5pp |
| Greek | 14 | 2.1% | 0.7% | - | - | 0.5% | - | - |
| Polish | 14 | 2.1% | 0.7% | 3 | 0.5% | 0.7% | +11 | +1.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 12 | 1.8% | 1.1% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).