Brisbane City Hall: Sam Watson wants ‘racist’ sculpture removed

ABORIGINAL leader and writer Sam Watson says it’s time the 88-year-old sculpture above the front door of Brisbane’s City Hall was taken down, labelling it “racist and misleading”.

Gable sculpture on City Hall in King George Square, Brisbane CBD on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. (AAP Image/Claudia Baxter)

ABORIGINAL leader and writer Sam Watson says it’s time the 88-year-old sculpture above the front door of City Hall was changed, labelling it “racist and misleading”.

The sculpture, entitled The Progress of Civilisation in the State of Queensland by Daphne Mayo, was unveiled on the facade of City Hall when it was opened in 1930.

It depicts a central figure representing the state sending forth explorers and settlers to tame the land.

To the left there is an indigenous man lying on the ground, seemingly dead, with another crouched holding a spear.

Aboriginal rights activist and academic Sam Watson is calling on Brisbane City Council to remove a racist sculpture above the door of City Hall. Picture: AAP Image/Claudia Baxter

The fact the sculpture was within a stone’s throw of a plaque laid in honour of the Stolen Generations made the insult even more galling, Mr Watson said.

“On a number of levels it offends me as an Aboriginal person,” he said.

“We’re being crushed down by this inevitable onrush of white civilisation ... Aboriginal people fought heroically to defend people and country.

“It’s an historical misrepresentation because this sculpture was unveiled in 1930 and there were large numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the landscape.

“Aboriginal people did survive and to this very day, 88 years later, we are still asserting our rights to country so it’s a lie.

“Number two it’s just insensitive.”

Mr Watson said he felt “shamed and deeply insulted” every time he walked past the sculpture.

He suggested two other wings be added to tell the story of the Aboriginal struggle and the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people in Australia today.

Judith McKay.

But art historian and curator of the Queensland Art Gallery’s 2011 Daphne Mayo exhibition Judith McKay disagrees.

She didn’t accept Mr Watson’s interpretation of the sculpture and said the man he believed was dead had no signs of trauma and was in fact laying on a pillow.

“It doesn’t represent the death of Aboriginal people ... it’s true this version would not be condoned today,” she said.

“One doesn’t destroy this culture otherwise all monuments would be destroyed by the next generation.”

She said there was no room for additional panels but said a plaque from an Aboriginal perspective would be a good idea.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk. Picture: Marc Robertson/AAP Image

Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said he had regular meetings with Sam Watson and other Aboriginal elders from Brisbane.

“Council is in the process of creating and installing a plaque in Post Office Square to recognise a historic Aboriginal leader Dundalli,” he said.

“This building is heritage listed and Council has no plans to modify or remove the tympanum.”

Mr Watson’s call comes on the back of Lord Mayor Graham Quirk’s recent comments that the council had no plans to change the date of Australia Day.

“Graham Quirk says he can’t change the date of Australia Day ... well here is something he can change,” Mr Watson said.