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Controversial statue to come down in historic move
Story: Judy Augustine Producer: Anthony Lucas
The statue of William Crowther, a former Premier who beheaded the remains of a Tasmanian Aboriginal man and stole his skull, has been voted by Hobart Council to be removed.
Across the world, public debates have erupted over the place of historical statues that glorify people such as enslavers. The Hobart decision is believed to be the first time a council in Australia has decided to remove a statue. 
Who was Crowther?
Crowther was an honorary medical officer at the Hobart General Hospital. In 1869, he was suspended for twice mutilating the corpse of Aboriginal man William Lanne, first at the Colonial Hospital and then at the cemetery.
Crowther removed Lanne's skull and sent it to the Royal College of Surgeons in London where it remained for over 120 years.Less than a decade later he became Premier.Crowther died in 1885. His statue was erected in 1889.
Depiction of William Lanne
A dark trade
A long campaign
Tasmanian Aboriginal people have campaigned for decades to remove the statue they say glorifies a man responsible for racist and barbaric actions. Opponents say tearing it down is an attempt to erase history. 
A historic vote
On August 15, Hobart City Council voted to remove the  statue. 
Vision: ABC
Hobart lord mayor Anna Reynolds said it was a step toward reconciliation with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.
Where will it go?
 The statue could go to the state library or the Crowther collection. A planning application must be lodged for its removal.
“This is not anything about deleting history, we are ultimately moving history, history is much more than a few statues.”  
Anna Reynolds
Art and truth-telling
A new public art project will be commissioned to tell the story of Hobart’s history, Ms Reynolds said, “to explain what a terrible type of scientific tradition it was, this idea of digging up people’s bones and skulls and sending it to the other side of the world to try and prove European superiority.”  
Removal of the statue isn’t done and dusted.
But there's still a catch
Depending on how many public representations are made during the planning application,  the matter could again wind up before council. With  elections in October, the decision would likely be voted on by a new council.
																																								

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/web-stories/free/the-mercury-hobart/controversial-statue-to-come-down-in-historic-move