Childhood and belonging over time: narratives of identity across generations on Tasmania’s east coast

This paper explores the ways in which identity and belonging are shaped by connectedness to place in small coastal communities in Tasmania, Australia. Based primarily on biographical interviews across three generations – young people, parents, and grandparents – it reveals centrality of place to a sense of identity and belonging. Two key themes, emerging from the research are explored. First, the consistency in narratives of identity over time, with ‘islander’ and ‘coastal’ shaping the ways in which participants across generations described themselves. Second, the article illuminates the transformation of childhoods over time and between generations, and the associated changes in the expectations and opportunities faced by young people.