Hobart City Council has voted to begin the process of handing back five hectares of Queens Domain land to the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, in what could be a first for an Australian capital city.
The decision passed nine votes to three at Monday night’s council meeting.
It is understood to be the first time a capital city has started a land return process.
It is also the first Aboriginal land return in Tasmania in two decades.
The motion gives the council’s chief executive the go-ahead to carry out legal, planning, environmental, heritage and land tenure investigations into the proposal, which covers 4.9 hectares of grasslands within the 230-hectare Queens Domain.
The aim is to support the creation of an Aboriginal-owned and operated cultural centre at the site.
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said there was still a “plethora of steps” before the process was finalised, but “at start of the journey you have to decide if you’re going to take that step”.
“This is a subject of really strong interest and engagement from the community,” she said.
Reynolds also described the decision as “a significant milestone and the first step in returning land to the Aboriginal community to allow for the recognition and celebration of Tasmania’s Aboriginal culture and connection to country in the heart of an Australian capital city”.
Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania general manager Sarah Wilcox called it a “truly meaningful opportunity in our relationship with the City of Hobart and with all Tasmanians and Australians”.
“Today’s outcome reflects a willingness to genuinely explore an opportunity of historic significance for our city and state,” she said.
“With good will from all parties, my hope is that we can turn this strong intention into a reality.”
Councillor Ben Lohberger praised it as one of “the most important actions taken during the current term on council”.
Councillor Louise Elliot voted against the motion, saying the community should have been consulted before investigations began.
“I strongly believe the community should have been asked their views before the Council gave the green light for a long and expensive process to begin,” she said.
Any future land transfer would still require a separate council decision and public notification under local government laws.
