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 Valla Beach were English, Australian and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Valla Beach - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Valla Beach in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Nambucca (A) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Valla Beach, with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).
English
2021 count
701
% of total
48.2%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
701
48.2%
+3.0pp
Australian
2021 count
504
% of total
34.6%
Change from 2016
-8.0pp
504
34.6%
-8.0pp
Irish
2021 count
233
% of total
16.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
233
16.0%
-0.1pp
Scottish
2021 count
186
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
186
12.8%
-1.1pp
German
2021 count
79
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
79
5.4%
+0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
45
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
45
3.1%
+2.1pp
Italian
2021 count
43
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
43
3.0%
+0.4pp
Welsh
2021 count
23
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
23
1.6%
+0.3pp
Dutch
2021 count
20
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
20
1.4%
-0.3pp
French
2021 count
11
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
11
0.8%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+107
+3.0pp
Australian
-55
-8.0pp
Irish
+22
-0.1pp
Scottish
+4
-1.1pp
German
+16
+0.6pp
Australian Aboriginal
+32
+2.1pp
Italian
+9
+0.4pp
Welsh
+6
+0.3pp
Dutch
-2
-0.3pp
French
+8
+0.6pp
Data table
Ancestry for Valla Beach. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 701 | 48.2% | 43.2% | 594 | 45.2% | 43.1% | +107 | +3.0pp |
| Australian | 504 | 34.6% | 41.0% | 559 | 42.6% | 44.8% | -55 | -8.0pp |
| Irish | 233 | 16.0% | 11.6% | 211 | 16.1% | 11.6% | +22 | -0.1pp |
| Scottish | 186 | 12.8% | 11.2% | 182 | 13.9% | 10.5% | +4 | -1.1pp |
| German | 79 | 5.4% | 4.0% | 63 | 4.8% | 3.9% | +16 | +0.6pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 45 | 3.1% | 7.4% | 13 | 1.0% | 1.8% | +32 | +2.1pp |
| Italian | 43 | 3.0% | 1.8% | 34 | 2.6% | 1.5% | +9 | +0.4pp |
| Welsh | 23 | 1.6% | 0.6% | 17 | 1.3% | 0.6% | +6 | +0.3pp |
| Dutch | 20 | 1.4% | 1.2% | 22 | 1.7% | 1.1% | -2 | -0.3pp |
| French | 11 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 3 | 0.2% | 0.5% | +8 | +0.6pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).