Crowther Reinterpretation

Crowther Reinterpreted is a long running public art and community engagement project which responds to continued requests for action regarding the William Crowther statue in Franklin Square.

This page provides a comprehensive update, including all key stages from 2020 to March 2025.

The current stage of the project (Stage Four) is open for feedback.

Stage one

Between late 2020 and the start of 2022, four temporary public art works were commissioned and installed on or beside the statue of William Crowther in Franklin Square. The four works were selected to present diverse perspectives and to acknowledge, question, provoke discussion or increase awareness about the story of Crowther and his treatment of the body of well-known Aboriginal leader William Lanne, after his death in the 1860s.

Members of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community have expressed their discomfort with the existence of the William Crowther statue during previous consultation, and this project was developed in response for their desire for something to be done to recognise the story of what happened to William Lanne.

The City's Aboriginal Commitment and Action Plan, sets out a commitment to visibility and truth telling across the city, with an action under this commitment being:

This project responds directly to this commitment and action and is intended to allow multiple voices to comment on and discuss this contested element within the city.

Each artwork was in place for approximately two months, with the installations running one after the other throughout 2021. Throughout the installation period, an online survey was conducted using the City's Your Say page, to capture feedback and reflections on the project, its impact and what the City might do as a permanent response in the park.

Stage two

The second stage of this project looked at what a permanent response to the William Crowther statue might be. The City's Arts and Culture team worked with the engagement team, direct stakeholders and other relevant, interested parties to analyse the information captured by the project to date and develop a proposal for a permanent response. The proposal was put to Council in August 2022, and the following recommendation was approved by Council:

That:

1. In recognition of the Council's 2020 Aboriginal Commitment and Action Plan and the submissions received in response to the Crowther Reinterpreted project, Council support the proposal for partial removal of the William Crowther statue from Franklin Square - the bronze component – to the City's Valuables Collection, pending further negotiations with local collecting institutions, for a permanent location for this element (Stage 3).

(i) This partial removal would be subject to receipt of planning approval by the Council and be paired with the instatement of temporary signage on the Franklin Square site, explaining the project.
(approved by Council 7 votes for and 4 votes against)

2. Subsequently, that officers develop a detailed proposal, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, for commissioning new, permanent, interpretative and/or sculptural elements to be installed beside the Crowther plinth (Stage 4). This would form the basis of a future report to the Council.
(approved unanimously by Council)

3. Following the completion of the Crowther Reinterpreted project, the Council support the development of a Monuments Policy to inform future additions or removals to the City's collection.
(approved unanimously by Council)

Anyone wishing to know more detail about the above proposal can read the full report in the Committee Meeting Agenda.

Stage three

The third stage of the project acted on recommendation 1, as detailed above, where a planning submission was made to remove the bronze component of the statue, and add temporary signage on the site. The planning submission was submitted as a Development Application to Council for approval, prior to any work commencing. Approval was given to remove the remaining portion of bronze from the sandstone plinth.

The bronze figure is being repaired and stored in line with the Heritage Council of Tasmania's permit requirements.