Burke and Wills underwent incredible hardship before they perished in Australia’s centre almost 150 years ago. The famous monument erected in their memory has also been on a perilous journey, and is again under threat.

In 1996, Robert Ridley wrote in his book A Walking Guide to Melbourne’s Monuments

One of the most disturbing features of Melbourne’s public statuary is its tendency to move. The most notorious example is the first in date, Burke and Wills. It was originally erected at the intersection of Collins and Russell Streets (the reason is unclear), moved from there to Spring Street when the cable trams were installed, transferred to the Carlton Gardens when the underground railway loop was built, then erected incongruously over a water slide by the Regent Theatre in Collins Street, and has recently been moved down to the edge of Swanston Street. It is now dangerously close to traffic and too low, considering the delicate bronze reliefs. It will almost certainly not be the last move for this exceptional work: the two explorers now gaze incongruously to the south.

Ridley is not alone in believing that the statue is in the wrong place. Many other critics have suggested that the City Square is not appropriate, and that the statue loses its relevance in its current position.

But Ridley’s concern about its proximity to traffic is about to become a more serious issue. Under the Swanston Street Redevelopment proposal, the roadway near the statue will be raised to make it easier for people to board trams. The roadway will be level with the square itself, with no kerb to prevent large vehicles from sideswiping the relief work on the statue as they pass. It’s time for Burke and Wills to move to higher, safer ground.

So where should the statue be located? A logical final resting place for the Burke and Wills statue is the south-west corner of the triangular site on which the Royal Society of Victoria’s building is located. This places the statue next to the historic building from which the Burke and Wills Expedition was originally sent forth, and where the remains of Burke and Wills lay in state when they were retrieved from Cooper Creek.

Suitably sited on a new raised area on the corner, the statue would be safe from damage, and the viewer would look up towards the statue, as was intended with its original placement up the Collins Street Hill. The Royal Society building and the Exhibition Gardens beyond would provide a much more sympathetic backdrop than the shops and big screen of the City Square.

The 150th Anniversary of the Burke and Wills Expedition provides an opportune time to re-locate the statue, when public interest in the explorers is at a high. If you agree, cast your vote in the poll on the right.