Captain James Cook monument on Bruny Island could be permanently removed due to public opposition

A memorial commemorating Captain James Cook’s first voyage may be taken down permanently amid concerns that it celebrates a “horrible” person.

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaign co-ordinator Nala Mansell has praised members of the public for opposing the potential reinstatement of a monument to Captain James Cook on Bruny Island. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A monument to Captain James Cook on Bruny Island could be permanently removed following a wave of community backlash and concerns that the memorial is “insensitive” to Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

The monument at Blackfellows Point was erected in 1970 and was the product of a collaboration between the Tasmanian government and the Swedish American Line to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Captain Cook’s first voyage to the Pacific Ocean on the Endeavour.

He is seen by many Indigenous Australians as a symbol of colonialism and invasion and is remembered by them for the violence he and his crews committed against First Nations peoples.

Captain Cook memorial at Blackfellows Point on Bruny Island. Picture: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas)

The Blackfellows Point monument was taken down in January 2022 after the Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) inspected the condition of the site, finding structural deterioration that posed safety risks.

Since its removal, a number of representations have been made asking for the memorial to be reinstated, prompting the PWS to conduct a public consultation process from February 5 to March 22 this year to determine whether or not it should restore the monument.

A Department of Natural Resources and Environment spokeswoman said a total of 14 submissions were received with the “majority” opposing the reinstatement of the memorial.

She said a common theme in the submissions was the view Blackfellows Point was an “insensitive” location for the monument because of its “associated symbolism”.

“Out of 14, one submission advocated for the reinstatement of the original monument,” the spokeswoman said.

“PWS are currently investigating options for the future of the Captain Cook monument.”

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaign co-ordinator Nala Mansell said it was “great to see” support from the wider community for the permanent removal of the memorial.

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaign co-ordinator Nala Mansell with the contentious statue of one-time Tasmanian premier and doctor William Crowther in Franklin Square in Hobart. Picture: Peter Mathew

“Captain Cook’s image and him as a person have been used against Aboriginal people right across the country as a way of claiming that we never existed and that we never owned our own lands,” she said.

“And it’s disgraceful to see that Bruny Island still has … monuments celebrating such a horrible man.

“Tasmania is doing an amazing job at finally being able to look at the actions of different people and delve deep into whether or not those people deserve to be celebrated.”

The Hobart City Council has voted to remove a statue of former Tasmanian premier and doctor William Crowther from Franklin Square due to his treatment of the body of Aboriginal leader William Lanne after his death in the 1860s.

The statue was cut from its plinth by vandalson the night before the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal dismissed an appeal against the council’s decision.