#CoalMustFall: Revisiting Newcastle’s coal monument in the Anthropocene

The recent actions taken against statues of figures associated with colonisation and racial oppression have again drawn attention to the enduring power monuments in landscape, even after many disavowed values they embody. This article shifts critique from a focus on race climate, an examination Jubilee or Coal Monument erected Newcastle, New South Wales 1909. monument was designed intention celebrating coal as foundation city’s prosperity driver modernity. In midst climate crisis, its future warrants consideration. Taking activist stance, it is argued that should be removed museum for reframing reinterpretation while place counter-monument coal, defined by James E. Young ‘memorial space conceived challenge very premise monument’, erected. would serve transitional location expressions pride past personal corporate associations industry grief at passing, avoiding creation which inevitably become target generations whom will different meanings.