Rainbows amidst the rivers

The far north-eastern corner of New South Wales (NSW), a region commonly referred to as either the Far North Coast or Northern Rivers, has a particular status within NSW, Australian and international social imaginaries on account of its rich environmental assets and the lifestyle and cultural characteristics commonly associated with it (typified by the lyrics to Kelly’s song that preface this article). The first named author’s extended residence in the region in 2000-2021 and participation in community groups and public forums indicated that these senses of place were shared, to varying extents, by its residents but are also juxtaposed with and/or opposed by others who have different senses of locale and region. This is unsurprising, as such perceptions are highly contingent on socio-cultural, political and spiritual inclinations, some of which can be more easily aligned with dominant regional identity projections than others. The concept of regionality is, itself, a complex and contingent one and this article explores these tensions and divergencies with regard to an area that has strong place mythologies and shifting demographics that are modifying these

Demographics · Mythology · Perception · Politics · Residence · Indigenous and Place-Based Education · Place Attachment and Urban Studies · Rural development and sustainability