Wednesday 25 May 2022 04:01 AM Controversial Captain Cook statue removed from Cairns after being sold for $1 trends now
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Fifty years of history and controversy has come to a dramatic end as an iconic statue of Captain James Cook begins its next voyage.
Standing 10 metres tall, the statue of the British explorer has been a Cairns landmark since 1972.
The giant monument has sparked outrage over the years not only for the infamous statue's Nazi-like salute but also stood as a 'symbol of colonialism and genocide' for indigenous Australians.
Dozens gathered at the site on Tuesday to witness history as the Captain Cook statue was brought down in a delicate operation to be relocated to a private property in the nearby Atherton Tablelands.
Demolition contractor Martin Anton reportedly bought the statue for $1 with plans to repaint and restore the the monument.
Tuesday marked the end of an era for one of Cairns' most iconic landmarks (pictured)
'He's going to have a well earned rest, he can lay down after standing
