Council votes to abandon renaming street named after controversial police officer

A PUSH to rename a street named after a controversial colonial era policeman has been reversed 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
• Residents push to change street named after colonial-era killer

ALICE Springs Town Council has voted by majority decision to take no further action on the renaming of Willshire Street.

“Residents stated their position very clearly: that they didn’t support the renaming of their street,” Mayor Ryan has since told the Centralian Advocate.

“I think the people who live in the street should be listened to.”

On 29 June this year, ASTC councillors unanimously approved a motion to “express support for the changing of the name of Willshire Street, and undertake community consultation to determine a recommendation of potential names to formally submit to the Place Names Committee.”

Willshire Street, south of The Gap off Traeger Ave, is named after colonial era policeman William Willshire.

Constable Willshire was charged with murder after his men attacked and killed two sleeping Aboriginal men in 1891. Willshire was later acquitted.

The Place Names Committee is the body that ultimately has the power to recommend renaming the street to the Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister.

The committee will next meet on 15 December and will discuss the renaming of Willshire Street.

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Mayor Ryan said he hopes “they listen to the residents like council did.”