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 Herberton were English, Australian and Australian Aboriginal.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Herberton - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Herberton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Tablelands (R) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Herberton, with comparison markers for Tablelands (R).
English
2021 count
333
% of total
37.2%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
333
37.2%
-3.2pp
Australian
2021 count
251
% of total
28.0%
Change from 2016
-14.5pp
251
28.0%
-14.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
122
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
+11.7pp
122
13.6%
+11.7pp
Scottish
2021 count
100
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
100
11.2%
-1.4pp
Irish
2021 count
97
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
97
10.8%
+0.4pp
Torres Strait Islander
2021 count
80
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+7.4pp
80
8.9%
+7.4pp
German
2021 count
44
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
44
4.9%
-1.2pp
Italian
2021 count
21
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
21
2.3%
-1.0pp
Filipino
2021 count
18
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
18
2.0%
+0.9pp
Dutch
2021 count
11
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
11
1.2%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-12
-3.2pp
Australian
-112
-14.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
+106
+11.7pp
Scottish
-8
-1.4pp
Irish
+8
+0.4pp
Torres Strait Islander
+67
+7.4pp
German
-8
-1.2pp
Italian
-7
-1.0pp
Filipino
+9
+0.9pp
Dutch
-2
-0.3pp
Data table
Ancestry for Herberton. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Tablelands (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Tablelands (R)% | Count | % | Tablelands (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 333 | 37.2% | 38.3% | 345 | 40.4% | 38.6% | -12 | -3.2pp |
| Australian | 251 | 28.0% | 37.1% | 363 | 42.5% | 41.2% | -112 | -14.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 122 | 13.6% | 6.8% | 16 | 1.9% | 0.9% | +106 | +11.7pp |
| Scottish | 100 | 11.2% | 10.7% | 108 | 12.6% | 11.1% | -8 | -1.4pp |
| Irish | 97 | 10.8% | 12.5% | 89 | 10.4% | 12.9% | +8 | +0.4pp |
| Torres Strait Islander | 80 | 8.9% | 1.5% | 13 | 1.5% | 0.2% | +67 | +7.4pp |
| German | 44 | 4.9% | 6.1% | 52 | 6.1% | 6.0% | -8 | -1.2pp |
| Italian | 21 | 2.3% | 5.8% | 28 | 3.3% | 6.0% | -7 | -1.0pp |
| Filipino | 18 | 2.0% | 0.7% | 9 | 1.1% | 0.6% | +9 | +0.9pp |
| Dutch | 11 | 1.2% | 1.5% | 13 | 1.5% | 1.5% | -2 | -0.3pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).