The City of Sydney's first-ever Aboriginal councillor, Yvonne Weldon, is pushing for a review of colonial statues in the city.

There are currently 25 statues of early colony leaders in Sydney's CBD, including one of former NSW governor Lachlan Macquarie unveiled in 2013, with a plaque that describes him as a “perfect gentleman” and a “supreme legislator of the human heart”.

Cr Weldon, a Wiradjuri woman, says such plaques provide “inaccurate, misleading, and offensive accounts” of those they commemorate. 

She points out the destructive impact of figures like Macquarie on First Nations people, who in his own words said; “Aborigines need to be shot with their bodies hung from trees”.

Despite the national referendum setback, Dr Weldon has highlighted the City of Sydney's overwhelming support for the Voice to Parliament, indicating that people are ready to support change. 

She has called for a review of public statues and additional signage to offer a more accurate portrayal of the individuals they represent.

Several statues became a focal point during Black Lives Matter protests, which saw mounted police protecting a Captain Cook statue in Hyde Park. The statues were also vandalised in 2017 with slogans like “no pride in genocide” and “change the date”.

Many argue that these statues remain an affront to First Nations people and perpetuate racist ideas, including the myth of peaceful colonisation. 

Dr Weldon is set to introduce a motion to review the statues to the City of Sydney on Monday.