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 Westbourne Park were English, Australian and Scottish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Westbourne Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Westbourne Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Westbourne Park, with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).
English
2021 count
1,081
% of total
21.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,081
21.1%
+0.1pp
Australian
2021 count
893
% of total
17.4%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
893
17.4%
-1.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
252
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
252
4.9%
-1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
219
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
219
4.3%
0.0pp
German
2021 count
199
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
199
3.9%
+0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
140
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
140
2.7%
+1.2pp
Greek
2021 count
121
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
121
2.4%
+1.9pp
Chinese
2021 count
119
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
119
2.3%
+2.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
55
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
55
1.1%
+0.1pp
Nepalese
2021 count
45
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-
45
0.9%
-
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+262
+0.1pp
Australian
+148
-1.7pp
Scottish
+6
-1.4pp
Irish
+51
0.0pp
German
+59
+0.3pp
Italian
+81
+1.2pp
Greek
+102
+1.9pp
Chinese
+109
+2.0pp
Dutch
+15
+0.1pp
Polish
+24
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Westbourne Park. 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 | 1,081 | 21.1% | 21.1% | 819 | 21.0% | 20.7% | +262 | +0.1pp |
| Australian | 893 | 17.4% | 16.8% | 745 | 19.1% | 16.7% | +148 | -1.7pp |
| Scottish | 252 | 4.9% | 5.3% | 246 | 6.3% | 5.1% | +6 | -1.4pp |
| Irish | 219 | 4.3% | 4.7% | 168 | 4.3% | 5.0% | +51 | 0.0pp |
| German | 199 | 3.9% | 4.1% | 140 | 3.6% | 4.1% | +59 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 140 | 2.7% | 2.2% | 59 | 1.5% | 2.0% | +81 | +1.2pp |
| Greek | 121 | 2.4% | 1.7% | 19 | 0.5% | 1.8% | +102 | +1.9pp |
| Chinese | 119 | 2.3% | 2.2% | 10 | 0.3% | 2.0% | +109 | +2.0pp |
| Dutch | 55 | 1.1% | 0.9% | 40 | 1.0% | 0.9% | +15 | +0.1pp |
| Nepalese | 45 | 0.9% | 0.3% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Total | 5,119 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,896 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,223 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).