The new owner of a controversial statue of Captain Cook in Cairns promises to “stop again” after it was about to be demolished.
The 10-meter statue stands on Sheridan St in Cairns for half a century, and has recently attracted the most widespread attention both as a symbol of Australia’s colonial past and for its stance.
The figure of Cook had an outstretched arm, which led to some comparisons with a Nazi salute.
The giant statue of Captain Cook has been removed from Sheridan St in Cairns. (9 News)
But new owner Martin Anton, who grabbed the statue for $ 1, dismissed the recent controversy, saying he felt it had been partly raised by the media.
“It’s good that he’s in the right hands, that’s what I’m happy about,” he told the Today Show.
He said the statue was an “icon” and that while it respected the views of people who disagreed with it, he believed that “95 percent” of the population of Cairns would be happy to see it. the saved.
The new owner, Martin Anton, promised that “it will be maintained.” (9 News)
“Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t understand history or have been taught history,” he said.
The statue is in good condition in a new location, although it currently lacks an arm.
“Everyone has a story about Captain Cook,” Anton said.
“It’s bigger than life in more ways than it is.”
The future of the statue is not yet in stone, but Anton said it would be the “second chapter.”
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