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 Bacchus Marsh were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bacchus Marsh - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bacchus Marsh in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moorabool (S) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bacchus Marsh, with comparison markers for Moorabool (S).
English
2021 count
3,064
% of total
39.2%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
3,064
39.2%
-3.2pp
Australian
2021 count
2,897
% of total
37.1%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
2,897
37.1%
-1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
1,093
% of total
14.0%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,093
14.0%
-0.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
952
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
952
12.2%
+0.4pp
German
2021 count
324
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
324
4.1%
-0.3pp
Italian
2021 count
305
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
305
3.9%
+0.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
259
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
259
3.3%
+1.2pp
Indian
2021 count
183
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
183
2.3%
+1.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
155
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
155
2.0%
+0.3pp
Polish
2021 count
97
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
97
1.2%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+356
-3.2pp
Australian
+435
-1.4pp
Irish
+142
-0.9pp
Scottish
+199
+0.4pp
German
+40
-0.3pp
Italian
+81
+0.4pp
Maltese
+125
+1.2pp
Indian
+116
+1.3pp
Dutch
+49
+0.3pp
Polish
+17
-0.1pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bacchus Marsh. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moorabool (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Moorabool (S)% | Count | % | Moorabool (S)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,064 | 39.2% | 38.8% | 2,708 | 42.4% | 39.4% | +356 | -3.2pp |
| Australian | 2,897 | 37.1% | 39.2% | 2,462 | 38.5% | 39.9% | +435 | -1.4pp |
| Irish | 1,093 | 14.0% | 13.2% | 951 | 14.9% | 14.5% | +142 | -0.9pp |
| Scottish | 952 | 12.2% | 11.4% | 753 | 11.8% | 11.2% | +199 | +0.4pp |
| German | 324 | 4.1% | 4.3% | 284 | 4.4% | 4.5% | +40 | -0.3pp |
| Italian | 305 | 3.9% | 3.9% | 224 | 3.5% | 3.8% | +81 | +0.4pp |
| Maltese | 259 | 3.3% | 3.9% | 134 | 2.1% | 3.4% | +125 | +1.2pp |
| Indian | 183 | 2.3% | 1.8% | 67 | 1.0% | 0.7% | +116 | +1.3pp |
| Dutch | 155 | 2.0% | 2.3% | 106 | 1.7% | 2.1% | +49 | +0.3pp |
| Polish | 97 | 1.2% | 1.1% | 80 | 1.3% | 1.1% | +17 | -0.1pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).