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 Hawthorndene were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Hawthorndene - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Hawthorndene in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hawthorndene, with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
1,675
% of total
24.8%
Change from 2016
+7.6pp
1,675
24.8%
+7.6pp
Australian
2021 count
1,302
% of total
19.3%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
1,302
19.3%
+2.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
415
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
415
6.1%
+0.9pp
Irish
2021 count
346
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
346
5.1%
+0.6pp
German
2021 count
323
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
323
4.8%
+1.7pp
Italian
2021 count
108
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
108
1.6%
-2.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
106
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
106
1.6%
+1.2pp
Polish
2021 count
62
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
62
0.9%
0.0pp
Chinese
2021 count
49
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
49
0.7%
-2.0pp
Welsh
2021 count
42
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
42
0.6%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+1,492
+7.6pp
Australian
+1,124
+2.5pp
Scottish
+360
+0.9pp
Irish
+298
+0.6pp
German
+290
+1.7pp
Italian
+68
-2.2pp
Dutch
+102
+1.2pp
Polish
+52
0.0pp
Chinese
+20
-2.0pp
Welsh
+34
-0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Hawthorndene. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | % | Mitcham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 1,675 | 24.8% | 21.1% | 183 | 17.2% | 20.7% | +1,492 | +7.6pp |
| Australian | 1,302 | 19.3% | 16.8% | 178 | 16.8% | 16.7% | +1,124 | +2.5pp |
| Scottish | 415 | 6.1% | 5.3% | 55 | 5.2% | 5.1% | +360 | +0.9pp |
| Irish | 346 | 5.1% | 4.7% | 48 | 4.5% | 5.0% | +298 | +0.6pp |
| German | 323 | 4.8% | 4.1% | 33 | 3.1% | 4.1% | +290 | +1.7pp |
| Italian | 108 | 1.6% | 2.2% | 40 | 3.8% | 2.0% | +68 | -2.2pp |
| Dutch | 106 | 1.6% | 0.9% | 4 | 0.4% | 0.9% | +102 | +1.2pp |
| Polish | 62 | 0.9% | 0.7% | 10 | 0.9% | 0.6% | +52 | 0.0pp |
| Chinese | 49 | 0.7% | 2.2% | 29 | 2.7% | 2.0% | +20 | -2.0pp |
| Welsh | 42 | 0.6% | 0.5% | 8 | 0.8% | 0.4% | +34 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 6,751 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,062 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5,689 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).