On 14 May 2024, the statue of former Tasmanian Premier William Crowther in Franklin Square, Hobart, was toppled overnight just before a scheduled decision on its removal. The statue, which had its legs cut, was found face-down next to its podium. The podium was marked with graffiti, including the word “decolonize.”
The statue has sparked controversy due to Crowther's actions in 1869 when he removed the skull of Aboriginal man William Lanne and sent it to the Royal College of Surgeons in London. Following years of campaigning by Indigenous groups, Hobart City Council voted in 2022 to remove the statue, but the decision was appealed to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, with a ruling expected the following morning.
The statue has faced previous acts of vandalism, including being painted red and marked with messages protesting against its presence. Tasmania Police are currently investigating the damage.