The Hobart City Council voted to provide in-principle support for the handback of council land at Queens Domain to the Aboriginal community.
This decision initiates a formal process to return land of cultural significance to its original custodians. The move aims to facilitate the creation of a cultural center, and acknowledge the historic ties the Aboriginal community maintains with the region.
The proposal involves the transfer of five hectares [1] of land located within the Queens Domain in Hobart, Tasmania. This specific area is intended to serve as a cultural site for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land Council, which represents the local Aboriginal community.
During the voting process, nine councillors [1] supported the proposal to move forward with the handback plan. The in-principle support marks a preliminary step in a larger administrative process to transfer ownership of the land from the city to the council's Aboriginal representatives.
By returning this land, the city seeks to address historic grievances, and provide a dedicated space for the preservation and celebration of Aboriginal culture. The project is designed to ensure that the land is managed by those with the deepest ancestral connections to the site.
Officials said that the process will now move toward finalizing the legal and administrative requirements necessary to complete the transfer. The council has not yet released a final timeline for the full handover, but the vote establishes the necessary political foundation for the project to proceed.
“The Hobart City Council voted to provide in-principle support for the handback of council land at Queens Domain.”
This vote represents a significant shift in local governance toward land restitution in Tasmania. By approving the handback in principle, the Hobart City Council is moving beyond symbolic recognition and toward the physical return of territory, which may set a precedent for other municipal land transfers across Australia.
