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 Townview were Australian, English and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Townview - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Townview in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mount Isa (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Townview, with comparison markers for Mount Isa (C).
Australian
2021 count
629
% of total
30.4%
Change from 2016
-9.8pp
629
30.4%
-9.8pp
English
2021 count
601
% of total
29.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
601
29.1%
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
449
% of total
21.7%
Change from 2016
+15.3pp
449
21.7%
+15.3pp
Irish
2021 count
139
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
139
6.7%
-3.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
123
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
123
6.0%
-1.8pp
Filipino
2021 count
106
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
106
5.1%
+1.4pp
German
2021 count
71
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
71
3.4%
-1.0pp
Maori
2021 count
64
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
64
3.1%
+1.1pp
Italian
2021 count
60
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
60
2.9%
+1.0pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
31
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
31
1.5%
+1.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-199
-9.8pp
English
0
0.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+318
+15.3pp
Irish
-75
-3.7pp
Scottish
-38
-1.8pp
Filipino
+30
+1.4pp
German
-20
-1.0pp
Maori
+22
+1.1pp
Italian
+20
+1.0pp
Torres Strait Islander
+27
+1.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Townview. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Isa (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mount Isa (C)% | Count | % | Mount Isa (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 629 | 30.4% | 33.4% | 828 | 40.2% | 41.0% | -199 | -9.8pp |
| English | 601 | 29.1% | 28.5% | 601 | 29.1% | 30.3% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 449 | 21.7% | 19.1% | 131 | 6.4% | 3.2% | +318 | +15.3pp |
| Irish | 139 | 6.7% | 8.9% | 214 | 10.4% | 10.9% | -75 | -3.7pp |
| Scottish | 123 | 6.0% | 7.2% | 161 | 7.8% | 8.4% | -38 | -1.8pp |
| Filipino | 106 | 5.1% | 3.8% | 76 | 3.7% | 3.1% | +30 | +1.4pp |
| German | 71 | 3.4% | 4.4% | 91 | 4.4% | 4.9% | -20 | -1.0pp |
| Maori | 64 | 3.1% | 2.3% | 42 | 2.0% | 2.3% | +22 | +1.1pp |
| Italian | 60 | 2.9% | 2.5% | 40 | 1.9% | 2.5% | +20 | +1.0pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 31 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 4 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +27 | +1.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).