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 Dunwich were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Dunwich - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Dunwich in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Redland (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dunwich, with comparison markers for Redland (C).
English
2021 count
274
% of total
37.2%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
274
37.2%
+3.6pp
Australian
2021 count
224
% of total
30.4%
Change from 2016
-20.2pp
224
30.4%
-20.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
216
% of total
29.3%
Change from 2016
+19.9pp
216
29.3%
+19.9pp
Scottish
2021 count
107
% of total
14.5%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
107
14.5%
+3.4pp
Irish
2021 count
81
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
81
11.0%
+0.2pp
German
2021 count
37
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
37
5.0%
+0.4pp
Italian
2021 count
15
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
15
2.0%
-0.1pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
13
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
13
1.8%
-
Maori
2021 count
11
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
11
1.5%
0.0pp
Dutch
2021 count
11
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
11
1.5%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-16
+3.6pp
Australian
-213
-20.2pp
Australian Aboriginal
+135
+19.9pp
Scottish
+11
+3.4pp
Irish
-12
+0.2pp
German
-3
+0.4pp
Italian
-3
-0.1pp
Maori
-2
0.0pp
Dutch
0
+0.2pp
Data table
Ancestry for Dunwich. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Redland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Redland (C)% | Count | % | Redland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 274 | 37.2% | 45.1% | 290 | 33.6% | 45.4% | -16 | +3.6pp |
| Australian | 224 | 30.4% | 35.5% | 437 | 50.6% | 35.7% | -213 | -20.2pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 216 | 29.3% | 2.8% | 81 | 9.4% | 0.3% | +135 | +19.9pp |
| Scottish | 107 | 14.5% | 12.2% | 96 | 11.1% | 12.2% | +11 | +3.4pp |
| Irish | 81 | 11.0% | 12.1% | 93 | 10.8% | 12.7% | -12 | +0.2pp |
| German | 37 | 5.0% | 6.0% | 40 | 4.6% | 6.3% | -3 | +0.4pp |
| Italian | 15 | 2.0% | 2.5% | 18 | 2.1% | 2.4% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 13 | 1.8% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Maori | 11 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 13 | 1.5% | 1.3% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Dutch | 11 | 1.5% | 2.2% | 11 | 1.3% | 2.0% | 0 | +0.2pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).