Performing Urban Character: Nine Takes on Place Identity

Abstract

This chapter is about the question of what it means to say that a place has 'character'. This is a term that is applied to both people and places, often implying an identity with certain authenticity or distinction. Across our cities 'urban character' is being both defended in older suburbs and created in new ones, preserved and constructed. Interviews with people from a range of such places across the Melbourne metropolitan area show that the experience and discourse of 'character' encompasses a range of different takes on place identity.