William Crowther statue in Hobart to be transformed into representation of Tasmanian Aboriginal man William Lanne

The prominent and contentious statue of former Tasmanian Premier William Crowther has been transformed by a local Aboriginal artist as part of a City of Hobart art project. DETAILS >>>

• Controversial Hobart statue focus of new city art installation
• Talking Point: It is hoped the art will provoke conversation and reflection

A STATUE of former premier William Crowther has been temporarily transformed into a tribute to the Aboriginal community advocate whose remains he mutilated in the 1860s.

Franklin Square in Hobart is home to the statue of Crowther, a 19th century surgeon whose reputation was marred for his role in mutilating the remains of Tasmanian Aboriginal man William Lanne.

The City of Hobart invited artists to submit proposals for temporary artworks to be installed on or near the statue, with four selected to be displayed over the next year, with an aim of provoking public conversation about the future of the statue.

The first piece, by well known Tasmanian Aboriginal artist Allan Mansell, was launched on Tuesday.

Tasmanian Aboriginal artist Allan Mansell with the William Crowther statue he transformed into 1st Nations Tasmanian King Billy at Franklin Square, Hobart. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Titled Truth Telling, it features the transformation of Crowther into Lanne by placing a covering over his head, an Aboriginal flag in his hand, and covering the existing text with an alternative narrative.

Truganini, Bessy Clark and William Lanne.

Lanne was the partner of Truganini and he became known as King Billy, with the native plant the King Billy pine named after him.

After his death, Crowther stole his skull, sending it to the Royal College of Surgeons in England, and sparking a squabble over the rest of the body, resulting in the hands and feet being cut off and the remainder deboned.

Mr Mansell said he was driven by “putting the wrongs right.”

“I’ve spent all my life battling white bureaucracy and telling the truth of what happened, as it isn’t happening in our schools and libraries,” he said.

“Aboriginal people have been fighting all our lives. For our right to be a person. For our rights to our land and our waterways.

“What happened to Lanne happened to many of our ancestors as they fought to keep their lands. This is the truth of what happened.”

The William Crowther statue has been in Franklin Square, Hobart since 1889.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the project was part of the City of Hobart’s Aboriginal commitment and action plan and part of a broader commitment “to telling a more complete and truthful history of our city.”

Each of the four artworks will be in place for up to two months, with community feedback sought on each, which will contribute to the development of a permanent response to the statue’s presence.