Controversial Crowther statue court appeal not to go ahead

The debate over a controversial statue of a former Premier and medico has dragged on for years. Find out the latest development.

Tasmania Police in attendance gathering evidence. The William Crowther statue in Franklin Square Hobart has been vandalised overnight resulting in the statue being removed from it's plinth and then removed by Hobart City Council. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A Supreme Court appeal against a tribunal decision allowing the demolition of the controversial William Crowther statue will not go ahead.

The decision by the three appellants not to proceed has been welcomed by Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and paves the way for the Hobart City Council to work on the Crowther Reinterpreted project in Franklin Square.

Former Hobart alderman Jeff Briscoe, former National Trust councillor Chris Merridew and Crowther family member Anne Blyth Burleigh say while they decided not to appeal to the court against the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s decision to allow the demolition of the statue they believed it would have succeeded.

The night before the TASCAT decision the bronze statue – erected 135 years ago – was cut off at the ankles and graffiti on the sandstone plinth read “WHAT GOES AROUND” and “DECOLONIZE”.

The controversial William Crowther Statue at Franklin square, Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

The William Crowther statue in Franklin Square Hobart has been vandalised overnight resulting in the statue being removed from it's plinth and then removed by Hobart City Council. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Briscoe said the council must now meet the conditions set by the Heritage Council to provide safe storage and the statue kept in an intact condition so it could be reinstated and accessed by the public.

He said the appellants would be lobbying for the statue to be housed at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

“We made this decision in the interests of reducing the perceived ongoing emotional conflict in the community and pursing the goals of reconciliation,” Mr Briscoe said.

“A successful Supreme Court appeal, and subsequent a further TASCAT hearing would extend conclusion of the matter, possibly for a number of years even though we are very confident that we would have been successful.

“We maintain that the TASCAT decision was not based on sound heritage and planning grounds and rather on incorrect perceptions and wrong applications of the law and TASCAT were too sensitive to negative perceptions of some in the community without proper evidence.”

The council voted to remove the statue in 2022 because Dr Crowther was known for mutilating the remains of Aboriginal man, William Lanne, stealing his skull and sending it to the Royal College of Surgeons in London.

Councillor Jeff Briscoe. Picture: Linda Higginson

Mr Briscoe said the TASCAT decision had “opened up the legal floodgates on colonial heritage monuments throughout Australia”.

“Every statue could be subject to activist local councils removing these important heritage items,” he said.

“Australia should brace itself for further vandalism attacks.

“Heritage memorials to prominent individuals, elders of the community at the time should be respected and protected.”

Mr Merridew said the statue was of international importance because it was the only work of world recognised sculptor Mario Raggi in the southern hemisphere.

“We put great store in the HCC’s commitment to find secure storage and an acceptable place where he once again can stand intact as required by conditions of the Heritage Council permit,” he said.

Ms Burleigh said it was an “extremely valuable work of art in its own right” and she had found the 1066 names of the citizens who donated funds to erect the statue for their “old friend, mentor, colleague, protector and esteemed medic”.

Ms Reynolds said the council would now work with the community and stakeholders “in proceeding with the next stage of works as part of the broader Crowther Reinterpreted project”.

The removal of the William Crowther statue marks a step towards a more inclusive approach to commemorating our past, she said.

A report on the project is expected to go before council in July.

Originally published as Controversial Crowther statue court appeal not to go ahead