Colonial premier’s statue cut down, Indigenous leader praises vandals’ ‘good work’

Vandals have toppled Hobart’s statue of former premier William Crowther, angering its supporters but winning the praise of Indigenous leaders, as a court ruling means it is likely to stay down.

Toppled: William Crowther statue lies fallen in Hobart's Franklin Square. Picture: supplied

Vandals have toppled Hobart’s statue of former premier William Crowther, angering its supporters but winning the praise of Indigenous leaders, as a court ruling means it is likely to stay down.

The statue’s fate was to be determined by a planning court ruling on Wednesday morning, which ultimately backed the city council’s plan to remove it from Franklin Square.

However, that decision was pre-empted by vandals with an angle grinder who cut halfway through the statue’s legs on Monday night and then returned on Tuesday night to finish the job.

There are questions as to why the city council did not better protect the statue - erected in 1889 - when asked to do so after the first attack.

However, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre – which accuses Crowther, a bone-hunting surgeon, of mutilating an Aboriginal corpse in 1869 – praised the vandals.

Today is a great day for us as a people, for the person/people who took action and for the memory and honour of William lanney who has only ever been remembered as the man who’s body was mutilated by William Crowther. Justice has been done!@[e-mail]/2Y6ayZ3wxE

— Nala Mansell (@NalaMansell) May 15, 2024

“Good on them,” TAC campaign manager Nala Mansell told ABC local radio. “As we see it, the hard work, the good work has been done.”

The William Crowther statue before the vandalism. Picture: Linda Higginson

City of Hobart chief executive Michael Stretton said the council “strongly condemns the act of vandalism that occurred in Franklin Square last night, resulting in the destruction of the William Crowther statue”.

“While we recognise the intense community sentiment surrounding this council asset, we firmly believe that vandalism and destruction are not acceptable responses,“ Mr Stretton said.

Graffiti on the statue’s plinth reads: “What goes around” and “Decolonise”.

The Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal later on Wednesday morning rejected an appeal against the council’s plan to remove the statue. This means it is unlikely to be repaired and reinstated, unless there is a successful Supreme Court appeal.

Ms Mansell foreshadowed a campaign to remove other colonial statues. “Let’s look at what is the next statue that needs to come down,” she said.

Some Indigenous activists advocate the removal of the statue – also in Franklin Square – of Sir John Franklin, lieutenant governor of Van Dieman’s Land.

Slogans on the base of the toppled William Crowther statue in Hobart's Franklin Square. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A Crowther descendant by marriage, Anne Burleigh, condemned the attack on the Crowther statute. “I’m absolutely gutted – I never fully realised that we have such as disgusting element in Hobart that shamefully disregards and disrespects others’ history,” Mrs Burleigh said.

“Respect is a two-way street. It’s heartbreaking. The community paid for this statue, he cared for everyone – no matter their skin colour or financial position, and they loved him.

“It’s the council’s jurisdiction to protect this and it was an obvious risk that they would return. Why did the council not take this seriously? It’s as if they wanted this to happen, saving them the job.”

Hobart councillor Louise Elliot blamed the council for ignoring her pleas on Tuesday night for the statue to be protected following the earlier attack. “I’m appalled, not only at the vandalism, but that this foreseeable atrocity was not prevented,” Ms Elliot said.

Former Hobart alderman Jeff Briscoe, who took the unsuccessful appeal against the council’s decision to remove the statue, said he felt “physically sick” and “appalled” at the vandalism.

He was disappointed the appeal had failed but would consider an appeal. “We had an excellent lawyer but she was up against five lawyers paid by the council and the state,” he said. “It is disappointing result as we believe that all colonial heritage is now at risk.”

Crowther, noted for his work treating the poor, was in 1869 accused of removing and stealing the skull from the corpse of Aboriginal man William Lanne - a claim he denied. He went on to be premier from 1878-79.

Opponents of the statue’s removal argue Crowther was never proved to be involved in the Lanne mutilation, while others were implicated, and that rather than remove the statue, interpretative material should be added.

Supporters of the statue’s downfall, including the TAC, argue there is little doubt Crowther was involved and his statue is a constant, painful reminder of abuses suffered by Indigenous people.

Its removal is the first toppling of a monument to an Australian premier, amid the global push to remove symbols of colonialism.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds welcomed the planning tribunal’s decision, saying the statue’s removal would allow use of the space for a work exploring colonial-era bone hunting.She said council staff had put fencing around the statue and increased patrols between the two vandal attacks. The statue would be stored “respectfully” in a collection.

Tasmania Police said it was investigating and called on anyone with relevant information to call 131 444.