by Dave Richards
from the Northern Territory News
Alice Springs' most controversial street has lost its name.
The poles at either end of the street named after central Australian policeman William Willshire have been removed, leaving two half-metre deep holes in the ground.
Willshire St has been the subject of public debate since documentary maker Rachel Perkins called for the street to be renamed in an episode of her series on Aboriginal history, The First Australians.
Some historians have accused the frontier policeman of murdering Aboriginal people.
Willshire was tried for the murder of two Aboriginal men in 1891 and found not guilty.
Willshire St resident Gordon Fawcett, who bought his house in 1973, said removal of the street signs was "a bit sad".
He said he had followed the recent controversy over Willshire.
He said the name should remain because Willshire St was a part of the town's heritage. Its naming reflected the values of the era.
Mr Fawcett said: "If Willshire had been found guilty of murder I wouldn't support the street being named after him.
"But of course if he had been found guilty the street wouldn't have been named after him in the first place."
Alice Springs Town Council was unaware the street signs had been removed when contacted by The Centralian Advocate.
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