Hobart, Sydney, Melbourne Confront Colonial Statues in Truth Telling 2026

Across Australia, the reckoning with colonial-era statues of white men has become a flashpoint in the nation's truth telling journey. Three cities—Hobart, Sydney and Melbourne—each host a problematic monument, and their responses reveal deep divisions over how to confront a history that treated Indigenous people barbarously, murderously and contemptuously.

The statues in question celebrate figures like William Crowther, Lachlan Macquarie and the explorers Burke and Wills. Each monument raises ethical dilemmas about whitewashing and historical accuracy, forcing communities to ask what—and who—should be honored in public space.

The Statues at the Center of the Debate

In Hobart, an 1889 statue of former Tasmanian premier William Crowther stands as a stark reminder of colonial atrocities. Crowther was not only a politician but also a surgeon who stole the skull of William Lanne, a deceased Tasmanian Aboriginal man, in pursuit of phrenology—a racially charged pseudoscience.

Sydney's 2013 statue of Lachlan Macquarie, the fifth governor of New South Wales, honors a man who ordered massacre campaigns and used "terror" tactics against Aboriginal people. Meanwhile, Melbourne's 1865 monument to explorers Burke and Wills commemorates an expedition that shot at First Nations people who might have saved them.

How Each City Has Responded

Hobart has moved relatively swiftly. In 2022, the city council voted to remove the Crowther statue, a decision that followed years of activism and debate. The vote signaled a willingness to confront the darkest chapters of Tasmania's past.

Sydney, by contrast, has been slower to act. The Macquarie statue, erected as recently as 2013, remains in place despite growing calls for its removal or reinterpretation. The city's reluctance reflects broader tensions over how to handle colonial legacies.

Melbourne's Burke and Wills statue has also faced scrutiny, but no definitive action has been taken. The monument's presence raises questions about whose stories are celebrated and whose are erased.

Why This Matters for Truth Telling

The debate over these statues is not merely about bronze and stone. It is about whose history is told and whose is silenced. For Indigenous communities, these monuments represent ongoing trauma and a refusal to acknowledge past wrongs.

Truth telling requires more than removing statues; it demands a fundamental rethinking of public memory. As Australia grapples with its colonial past, the fate of these monuments will signal how seriously the nation takes that challenge.

• Hobart voted to remove the Crowther statue in 2022, setting a precedent for action.
• Sydney has yet to act on the Macquarie statue, erected in 2013.
• Melbourne faces pressure over the Burke and Wills monument from 1865.
• Truth telling requires confronting uncomfortable histories, not erasing them.
• Public memory is contested ground in Australia's ongoing reconciliation.

Comparing the Statues and Their Contexts

What to Watch Next

The coming months will be crucial. Hobart's decision to remove the Crowther statue may inspire other cities to follow suit, or it may provoke a backlash. Sydney's handling of the Macquarie statue will be particularly telling, given the monument's recent installation.

Meanwhile, Melbourne's Burke and Wills statue remains a test case for how to address historical figures who are celebrated for exploration but condemned for their treatment of Indigenous people. The outcome will shape the national conversation.

As these debates unfold, they connect to broader struggles over historical memory. The fight over statues is part of a global movement to reassess colonial legacies, from the removal of Confederate monuments in the US to protests in the UK. Australia's approach will be watched closely.

For those following these issues, the case of Australia's colonial slavery legacy in Townsville offers another example of how local histories of exploitation are being reexamined. Similarly, the Kikuyu land review reveals how colonial-era misery persists in unexpected places, like your morning tea.

The debate over statues also intersects with contemporary issues of justice and truth telling. Recent news from Melbourne reminds us that violence and its aftermath continue to shape communities. And as Australia news covers everything from Swans sanctions to Meta trials, the question of who gets to tell their story remains central.

These conversations are not confined to Australia. In France, French schoolchildren have been treated like criminals for telling the truth, highlighting a universal tension between authority and honesty. Closer to home, a man asked if he was wrong for telling the truth when his friend's girlfriend asked if she was fat—a reminder that truth telling is rarely simple.