150-Year-Old Skull Theft Divides Tasmanian City Today

Vandalized statue of William Crowther in Hobart, with only severed bronze feet remaining and graffiti at the base.
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Over 150 years ago, surgeon and politician William Crowther allegedly stole the skull of William Lanne, an Aboriginal leader, from a Hobart morgue. The crime continues to haunt Hobart, Tasmania, where the statue of Crowther once stood in a central square before being vandalized. The statue was severed at the ankles, leaving only bronze feet behind, with graffiti reading “what goes around.” The act represents a larger debate about colonialism, racism, and Tasmania’s dark history.

Crowther’s actions have made him a notorious figure in Tasmania’s history. He allegedly broke into a morgue, mutilating Lanne’s body and sending his skull overseas. This was seen as evidence of colonizers viewing Tasmanian Aboriginal people as extinct. Today, Lanne’s descendants view Crowther as a symbol of colonial violence and erasure.

William Lanne, born around 1835, was part of the Palawa people, the original inhabitants of Tasmania. He lived through harsh conditions in camps set up by British colonizers and became an advocate for his people. Lanne died in 1869 at the age of 34. His body parts, including his hands, feet, and skull, were stolen by physicians eager to study what they considered the “missing link” between humans and Neanderthals.

The scandal led to Crowther’s suspension from the hospital, although he denied his involvement in the theft. His statue, however, became a symbol of colonial brutality for many. Aboriginal activists, like Nala Mansell, see it as representing the false narrative of the extinction of Aboriginal Tasmanians.

The debate over the statue continues to divide Hobart. While some residents, including Crowther’s descendants, argue that his historical contributions should be acknowledged, others view him as a symbol of a painful colonial past.


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