The removal of a controversial statue at Hobart’s Franklin Square has been approved by the Tasmanian Heritage Council.
In its deliberation, the Heritage Council say they noted the significant interest in the application and the
divergence of community views.
“The impacts on the historic cultural significance of Franklin Square that would result from removal the statue are acceptable,” they said in a statement.
To minimise the impacts arising from the statue’s removal, Heritage Council Chair Brett Torossi says they have applied several conditions relating to the removal and storage of the statue, and the conservation and maintenance of the plinth that remains.
“The conditions provide protections for the 1889 statue and the remaining heritage fabric of Franklin Square,” he said.
There have been growing calls to remove the state in recent years, after Crowther’s history came to light.
In 1869, William Crowther was suspended from medical practice over charges of mutilating the remains of Aboriginal man William Lanne by removing his skull.
He was Premier of Tasmania from 1878-1879.
The Hobart City Council will now make a final decision on the future of the William Crowther statue.
HCC Councillor Louise Elliot has slammed the decision as “disappointing”.
“I’m concerned, especially from the perspective of how dangerously low the bar is set,” she said.
“There’s dozens of Tasmanian monuments, buildings, collections which are actually attributed to people who are more culpable”.
