Council to continue discussions on street named after police officer charged with murder

A PUSH to rename a Territory street named after the first policeman in Australian history to be charged with murder has been heard at a meeting of council

Suki Dorras-Walker with a letter she has written to the Alice Springs Town Council requesting that the name of Willshire Street be changed. Picture: Emma Murray

• Alice Springs residents to rename street named after colonial-era killer William Willshire

A PUSH to rename an Alice Springs street named after the first policeman in Australian history to be charged with murder has been heard again at a meeting of council.

Willshire Street, south of The Gap off Traeger Ave, is named after William Willshire who was charged with murder after his men attacked and killed two sleeping Aboriginal men in 1891. Willshire was later acquitted.

The Gap resident Suki Dorras-Walker wrote to Alice Springs town councillors in June urging the name to be changed.

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Council then conducted an online survey, where 55 voted on renaming the street — of which 41 were in favour.

However, the street’s residents didn’t want the name changed.

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In a business report, the council’s Technical Services Manager said the proposed change was an acknowledgment of a time in history when race relations were considerably different to now.

“While renaming the street will not change the alleged history of Willshire it acknowledges the period in time and the ­impacts within the Indigenous community.”

During the meeting councillors heard there was a wait on more information in regards to the matter before a decision could be made.

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