TAC says Crowther’s feet should have stayed on Franklin Square plinth

The bronze part of the statue of William Crowther has finally been removed, but some say there could have been other ways to deal with the statue. Here’s how much the work cost the council.

The remains of the bronze part of the statue of William Crowther has finally been removed, leaving behind the plinth, behind a large wooden box, in Franklin Square.

“With careful checks and investigation by the material conservationist, the remaining piece of bronze was able to be removed from the sandstone plinth today without damage to the plinth,” City of Hobart acting city director Felicity Edwards said.

“As the statue was vandalised, most of the costs are covered by insurance. The repair and assessment total is approximately $62,000. The Council is required to pay an excess of $10,000 with insurance to cover the balance.”

The remaining piece of the Crowther statue will be carefully removed and restored to the main portion of the statue as per the Hobart City Council decision and in line with the Heritage Council of TasmaniaÕs permit requirements. Picture: Craig Herbert

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaigner Nala Mansell had other ideas about what should have been done with what was left of the statue.

“The bronze part of the monument has been taken down but the plinth remains which mentions how ‘great’ of a man William Crowther was,” she said.

“We celebrated that the council voted in support to remove the statue, we’re disappointed the plinth must remain.”

She also said there was lost opportunity in removing the feet of the statue from the plinth.

“I think especially from an artistic point of view what a great opportunity it would have been for the statue to be left cut off.”

She said she looked forward to seeing what would be placed in the square in the future.

“We expect the Hobart City Council now works with the Aboriginal community to decide if any symbols or explanation will be put in place,” she said.

“We hope to ensure whatever is decided has the support of the Aboriginal community.”

Ms Mansell said she’d support the idea of something in Franklin Square honouring a well-known Tasmanian Aboriginal person.

“There’s still nothing in Hobart that acknowledges the contributions so many Aboriginal people have made to the history of the people of Tasmania,” Ms Mansell said.

“Bronze statues are a very colonial type of monument … I think it’s up for discussion whether it should be a bronze statue or something else.”

Final Crowther statue work to be completed

September 11, 10:54am: What remains of the controversial statue of William Crowther has, for months, been hidden behind a large wooden box, but today it will finally be removed.

Once standing tall in Hobart’s Franklin Square was a bronze monument dedicated to the former Tasmanian Premier.

The controversial William Crowther Statue used to stand in Franklin square, Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

But there’s a dark history behind the statue: 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.

It was set to be removed after a decision by the Hobart City Council, which was appealed, but on eve of tribunal verdict, which would ultimately uphold the council’s vote, the statue was sawn off at the ankles.

Workers from International Conservation Services begin final work of removing Crowther statue. Picture: Craig Herbert

What’s left of the statue, the ankles sitting on the plinth, will finally be removed, and work will be undertaken to reunite them with the rest of the monument.

Workers from International Conservation Services begin final work of removing Crowther statue. Picture: Craig Herbert

Temporary signage will be installed to explain the why the statue has been removed, and some sort of permanent artwork to explain the story behind the statue will be put in Franklin Square down the track.

Exactly what that will look like has not yet been decided.

There have also been questions around the future of the statue, which has been sitting in the council’s collection in a “safe place”.

In July, the door was left open for future display of the statue; council staff said there was an opportunity for collaboration between the council and another public entity for its display, but more discussion was needed.

Originally published as TAC says Crowther’s feet should have stayed on Franklin Square plinth