Hobart Replaces Crowther Statue with Native Garden and Bronze Ring

A native garden surrounded by a bronze ring has replaced the toppled William Crowther statue in Hobart's Franklin Square. The original bronze figure of the 19th‑century surgeon and politician was cut down at the ankles by vandals in mid‑2024, hours before the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal upheld the council’s plan to remove it. Crowther is known for stealing the skull of Aboriginal man William Lanne for pseudoscientific purposes, a fact highlighted in the new installation.

What Happened

The City of Hobart unveiled the permanent replacement today. The design, by architect Mat Hinds, keeps the empty plinth as an echo of the removal and adds a garden of native plants inside a circular bronze ring. The ring bears three engraved narratives: one on Crowther and colonial life, one on Lanne and Palawa history, and a social commentary on public statues.

Reaction

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the project reflects five years of community consultation and offers a “more honest and complete” view of the city’s past. Hinds described the bronze ring as a “ring of truth‑telling” that invites visitors to walk around the garden and read the stories. Nunami Sculthorpe‑Green, a Palawa and Warlpiri writer, praised the chance to “re‑centre” Lanne’s story, while history writer Alison Alexander noted the city cannot pretend the story didn’t happen.

Context

Across Australia, many councils are re‑examining colonial monuments, and Hobart’s approach—using democratic processes and artistic reinterpretation—may serve as a model for other communities.