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 Bonegilla were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Bonegilla - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Bonegilla in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wodonga (C) and change since 2016.
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bonegilla, with comparison markers for Wodonga (C).
Australian
2021 count
297
% of total
48.7%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
297
48.7%
+2.1pp
English
2021 count
228
% of total
37.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
228
37.4%
0.0pp
Irish
2021 count
83
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
83
13.6%
+4.5pp
Scottish
2021 count
72
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
72
11.8%
-0.2pp
German
2021 count
39
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
39
6.4%
+0.6pp
Italian
2021 count
21
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
21
3.4%
+0.5pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
14
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-
14
2.3%
-
Dutch
2021 count
11
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
11
1.8%
+0.4pp
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
-26
+2.1pp
English
-31
0.0pp
Irish
+20
+4.5pp
Scottish
-11
-0.2pp
German
-1
+0.6pp
Italian
+1
+0.5pp
Dutch
+1
+0.4pp
Data table
Ancestry for Bonegilla. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wodonga (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wodonga (C)% | Count | % | Wodonga (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 297 | 48.7% | 42.1% | 323 | 46.6% | 42.1% | -26 | +2.1pp |
| English | 228 | 37.4% | 40.0% | 259 | 37.4% | 39.8% | -31 | 0.0pp |
| Irish | 83 | 13.6% | 11.6% | 63 | 9.1% | 12.9% | +20 | +4.5pp |
| Scottish | 72 | 11.8% | 10.4% | 83 | 12.0% | 10.5% | -11 | -0.2pp |
| German | 39 | 6.4% | 7.0% | 40 | 5.8% | 7.1% | -1 | +0.6pp |
| Italian | 21 | 3.4% | 3.1% | 20 | 2.9% | 2.9% | +1 | +0.5pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 14 | 2.3% | 3.3% | - | - | 0.3% | - | - |
| Dutch | 11 | 1.8% | 2.0% | 10 | 1.4% | 1.9% | +1 | +0.4pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).