Maitland City Council Removes Heritage Report from Controversial Art Display

Maitland City Council removed a 60‑page heritage report titled “Hitching Post, Maitland” from artist Osvaldo Budet’s exhibition “Monuments” at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery’s “Upriver Downriver” show. The council said a staff member raised copyright concerns and the report was taken down before the opening, then reinstated after Budet pressured the council.

Mayor Philip Penfold denied any personal involvement in the removal but acknowledged the council placed a warning sign at the exhibition entrance, noting the display could offend community members who value the historic hitching post. Budet, who draws on his Puerto Rican background, argues the hitching post is intrinsically racist and that the council’s “freedom of expression” statement is ironic given the attempted removal.