Disgraced Aussie Politician’s Statue to Be Removed After Mutilating Aboriginal Man’s Body
The statue of former Tasmanian Premier William Crowther, a controversial figure in Australian history, is set to be torn down following approval from the Tasmanian Heritage Council. The heritage council deemed the impacts on the historic cultural significance of the area to be acceptable, paving the way for the removal of the statue.
William Crowther, who served as Tasmania’s 14th Premier from 1878 to 1879, was born in the Netherlands and worked as a surgeon and businessman involved in colonial enterprises. However, his legacy is marred by the gruesome act of mutilating the remains of an Aboriginal man named William Lanne in 1869.
Lanne, believed to be the state’s last full-blooded Aboriginal when he died, had his head severed by Crowther, who sent the skull to the Royal College of Surgeons in London. This act has long been a point of contention surrounding Crowther’s statue in Hobart’s Franklin Square.
The decision to remove the statue comes after a report by local Aboriginal people expressed their pain and highlighted the need for its removal. Last year, the Hobart City Council voted 7-4 in favor of removing the statue, and now the Tasmanian Heritage Council has given its approval.
Chair of the Tasmanian Heritage Council, Brett Torossi, stated that the impacts of removing the statue would be deemed acceptable after careful deliberation. To minimize the impacts, the Heritage Council has imposed specific conditions related to the removal, storage, conservation, and maintenance of the statue and its plinth.
Some council members disagreed with the decision, arguing that history should be preserved warts and all. They believe that the statue symbolizes Crowther’s contribution to the state rather than celebrating his appalling acts. However, proponents of the removal argue that taking down the statue is a small step toward reconciliation and confronting systemic racism.
Now, the Hobart City planning authority needs to issue a permit for the statue’s removal, which is estimated to cost around $20,000. Despite differing opinions on the matter, the decision to remove the statue reflects the importance of respecting and acknowledging the painful history of the Aboriginal people in Australia.
