Captain Cook statue in question amid Cairns University Hospital demolition
Days are numbered for a controversial statue of Captain James Cook as demolition crews make way for a critical Cairns University Hospital upgrade.
Cairns
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THE towering statue of Captain James Cook was erected on Sheridan St for almost 50 years, originally as an advertising gimmick to draw attention to the Captain Cook Motel.
Legend has it a council officer assessing the development application misread the proposal, thinking it was referring to feet instead of metres.
The result was an enormous statue of someone who would go on to become one of the most controversial figures in Australian history.
A petition to have the statue knocked down attracted more than 10,000 signatures when the Black Lives Matter movement was at its height last year.
Beyond simply the divisive figure it represented and his part in Australia’s colonial history, petitioners argued it was a slap in the face to have such a large statue of someone who appeared to be doing a “Nazi salute”.
In fact, the depiction was based on an illustration of Captain Cook with his arm outstretched to stop Aboriginal men throwing spears at him.
Either way, there has been much speculation about what will happen to the towering colossus once the wrecking crew arrives.
One thing is almost certain.
Despite the statue sharing some undeniable qualities with James Cook University (JCU), which now owns it and the land it sits on, it will not stay at the site.
The property is set to be transformed into the Cairns University Hospital upgrade – particularly JCU’s new tech precinct – and having a dirty, great big statue would be a strange look.
And yet, the university refuses to say what its plans are.
“JCU has no update on the statue,” a spokeswoman said.
With demolition crews now on site, it is only a matter of time until the future of the city’s most controversial and landmark becomes clear.
What should happen to the Captain Cook statue? Leave your comments below.
FAQs
Will the Captain Cook statue in Cairns be demolished?
It almost certainly has to be removed to make way for the Cairns University Hospital upgrade project, but new owner James Cook University refuses to say what its plans are for the statue.
Is the Captain Cook statue in Cairns doing a Nazi salute?
No, it was based off an illustration of the explorer raising his hand to stop local Aboriginal men throwing spears at him.
What is the history of the Captain Cook statue in Cairns?
It was built about 50 years ago as a gimmick to attract attention to the Captain Cook Motel, which no longer exists.
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