Statue of former Tasmanian premier William Crowther to fall, after heritage body rules ‘acceptable impact’

Tasmania’s Heritage Council has approved the toppling of a statue of former premier William Crowther.

The William Crowther statue in Franklin Square Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Tasmania’s Heritage Council has approved the toppling of a statue of former premier William Crowther, removing the last barrier to it being torn down.

Heritage council members on Wednesday decided the heritage impacts of removing the statue from Franklin Square were “acceptable”.

“The Heritage Council, after careful deliberation, has determined by majority decision that the impacts on the historic cultural significance of the Franklin Square that would result from removal the statue are acceptable,” said chair Brett Torossi.

A final decision will rest with the Hobart City Council, which has already backed its removal and changed the relevant heritage document to downplay the heritage value of the statue.

Crowther, a surgeon noted for his work for the poor but also his penchant for bone hunting, was in 1869 accused of removing and stealing the skull of Aboriginal man William Lanne - a claim he denied.

Removal of his statue is supported by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and most city councillors, as a means of acknowledging the past theft of Aboriginal remains in the pursuit of now discredited scientific theories.

It would be the first removal of the statue of a premier in Australia, amid fierce debate about whether statues of historical figures with chequered records should be toppled, reinterpreted or maintained.

Some city councillors, Indigenous groups and historians oppose the statue’s removal move, arguing Crowther was never proven to have removed or stolen Lanne’s skull, the whereabouts of which remains a mystery.

“This decision is so disrespectful to the wishes of the many people who paid for this statue,” said councillor Louise Elliot. “The statue belongs to the community of the 1800s who loved Dr Crowther dearly.

“Some community members have said they‘re offended by the statue given Dr Crowther’s association with collecting the bones of Aboriginal people. Historians have clearly stated that this was normalised behaviour of the 1800s and that Dr Crowther was actually the least culpable in this.

“The bar is now set dangerously low in terms of what is under threat by cancel culture. We can expect more deletions of our heritage to come.”

However, the decision was welcomed by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. “We know for sure that William Crowther was responsible for the mutilation of William Lanne because of his race,” said centre campaign manager Nala Mansell.

“We know that he had a collection of Aboriginal bones. What he did was evil and he certainly is not someone who should be celebrated. His statue is a continual reminder of the injustices committed against Aboriginal people.”

The city council is now expected on August 23 to approve its own development application for the statue to be removed to storage. However, the decision is certain to be appealed to the state’s planning court.