What do we call ourselves?
Oct 11Londoners, Parisians, Canberrians: inhabitants of a city generally create a common name for themselves, an easy tag. It’s an expression of pride and personality. When we hear the word Melbournian an image immediately pops into our minds.
Obviously, we are Hobartians.
Or are we?
In our interviews, we found you were split on whether or not you identify first as a Hobartian or a Tasmanian who lives in Hobart. When we write the word Hobartian, the global robot brain of spell check underlines it as an error.
This is more than a curiosity. As we design and build a city together, we want to understand what makes us … us. It begins with having a sense of what makes Hobart unique, what it means to be a Hobartian. It will guide much of what you read here, in the coming weeks.
No matter your specific suburb, you answered questions about your city as “Hobartians” whether you used the word or not.
Why do so many of us feel bashful about calling ourselves Hobartians?
“Maybe it’s because no matter where you are in Hobart, you can see Tasmania,” one of you said.
“I just think it’s a lack of confidence,” said another of your neighbours. “When I was a kid, I always told people I was born in Melbourne — like it was better, cooler somehow. I don’t do that anymore. Now I’m a Hobartian, even though I’m not yet sure what it means. Sometimes I think outsiders understand it better than we do.”
Many of you spoke of a historical “cringe factor” about living here, like you had to apologise for it. Is this dangerous, as the city grows?
Confidence is a theme we’ll explore with Only in Hobart. We are developing a new confidence as Hobartians. We’re beginning to understand and express what makes our city special.
Confident people make good decisions. They know how to build a city together.
Are you a Hobartian? Or a Tasmanian who lives in Hobart? Defend your choice!
October 12, 2017 at 7:21 pm
StewartNever thought of this but it is weird. I reckon I’ll try thinking myself Hobartian for a week. You’re right, though. When you write it it’s underlined as a mistake!
October 15, 2017 at 8:49 am
LindsayA relatively recent arrival, I came here through choice. So none of the historical embarrassment and apologies above resonate. MONA, great restaurants, great scenery are boosting Hobart’s reputation worldwide – proud to be Hobartian!
October 15, 2017 at 7:57 pm
AlbertNever really thought of this but yeah it isn’t normal is it. On the mainland it’s all about the city. And we only talk about our suburbs with each other. How often will the blogs come out?
October 16, 2017 at 10:12 am
PipThe question usually arises when someone asks where you are from. In that contect I identify as Tasmanian and usually go on to refer to all the great places to visit in Tasmania which are also outside HCC boundaries.
October 16, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Craig‘Hobartian’ to me is only an intra-island familial, used in humour. I am Tasmanian, the island’s shores are sufficient – Hobart’s are positively stifling! ( I live in the Hobart suburb I was born in and lay ‘overseas’ years on the view)
October 18, 2017 at 4:47 pm
StephenTasmanian. No question. We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth and I cannot imagine Hobart ever being regarded as totally separate or distinct from the rest of this island. The “Tasmanian-ness” of this place is apparent whenever we glance up our mountain, enjoy our produce and interact with local characters at the pub or market.
October 18, 2017 at 4:49 pm
AlThe endearing “Hobbiton” captures the essence of the sort of place Hobart might aspire to be: populated by quaint innocents with lion hearts and loyalty to their friends when it counts.
November 17, 2017 at 6:34 pm
Phil JenkinsI heard on the radio a descendant of the original Lord Hobart that Hobart is named after, and was surprised to hear that indeed it should be pronounced Hobb-art. So we arent that far from living in middle earth !
October 19, 2017 at 10:10 pm
DamienTasmanian
October 24, 2017 at 7:11 pm
AndyMost people in the world heard of Tasmania. It is more familiar name than NSW, Queensland or any other state of Australia. In fact, when I say Tasmania to a non-australian, most heard the name but have not idea it is part of Australia. Tasmania can be driven from North to South in about 4 hours. It has only a handful of towns that are bigger than a village. You can live in any place in Tasmania and you are not going to be further from Hobart or Launceston than people living in the outer suburbs of Sydney from the Sydney CBD. We are Tasmanians.
October 25, 2017 at 1:54 pm
Jenni GyffynTasmanian.
October 27, 2017 at 1:05 pm
MonaI have never thought about it that way and always considered myself as a Tasmanian. I feel that as a state we have always had that sense of being one big community rather than separate ourselves on a city basis.
November 01, 2017 at 8:50 am
RobertAs you drive through the state it is easy to see who are local and who are tourists. Tasmanians are comfortable in their ‘place’ while visitors are doing what visitors do. We are Tasmanians – Hobart is our capital.
When I am asked by Tasmanians where I live I say West Hobart but when outside the state I am a Tasmanian.
October 28, 2017 at 5:28 pm
BillIn a world in which more and more people live in gargantuan cities like ants nests, Hobart offers a human scale, a sense of community and an intimacy between urban, rural and bush, all of which need to be preserved and built on). Sure, we are Hobartians but inclusively of other aspects of our identity which also need to be fostered.
November 22, 2017 at 10:21 am
MikeI’m an Australian who lives in the state of Tasmania and proud of it
December 15, 2017 at 11:23 am
Ian AtkinsonTasmanian first. Australian depending on context (usually when overseas). Hobartian never.