{
  "id": 10435474,
  "title": "Glimpse at toppled colonial statue's reinterpretation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/glimpse-at-toppled-colonial-statues-reinterpretation",
  "topic": null,
  "section": null,
  "published": "2026-09-28T09:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://nynganobserver.com.au/story/9359018/glimpse-at-toppled-colonial-statues-reinterpretation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A controversial colonial premier's toppled statue will be reinterpreted through sandstone, bronze, and elements of empathy, alongside commentary on its unlawful removal, according to Hobart City Council's plan. In 2022, the council voted to remove the statue of surgeon William Crowther, erected in 1889 four years after his death, acknowledging his community service. Dr. Crowther was accused of stealing the skull of Aboriginal man William Lanne from a hospital in 1869 and replacing it with another man's skull. Vandals toppled the statue in May 2024 before the council could remove it. Renders of the reinterpretation, to be completed by October, have been released following extensive community consultation. The materials used will include sandstone, bronze, and empathy. Short works by Nunami Sculthorpe-Green, Alison Alexander, and Andrew Harper will be displayed near the remaining statue plinth, discussing the lives of Mr. Lanne and Dr. Crowther, as well as Aboriginal and colonial life in the 1800s, and providing commentary on the statue's removal. A QR code will provide access to longer written pieces online. Hobart Mayor Anna Reynolds emphasized that the project represents a significant milestone in an ongoing community conversation, acknowledging the diverse perspectives and histories connected to the site. Indigenous groups had campaigned for years to remove the statue, arguing that it served as a hurtful reminder of Dr. Crowther's actions. Despite seven grounds raised against the statue's removal, including concerns about the square's historical and cultural heritage, the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal dismissed the appeal, noting the positive impact of its removal and the reasons for its removal.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}