The State Library of NSW is the latest institution facing controversy surrounding a description of Sir Joseph Banks, the famous botanist who sailed with James Cook on the Endeavour.

The following statements can be attributed to a State Library spokesperson:

The painting has been on display in the Library’s Paintings Galleries since 2018, and the current caption is displayed during the Library’s 200th Anniversary program which commenced in April 2026.

This caption was written by specialist librarians and is based on research using historical documents found in the Library’s collection.

The 200th Anniversary is an opportunity for the Library to invite audiences to look at our collection through a contemporary lens.

Perspectives of history change over time, and the Anniversary program looks at the full breadth of the history of the Library and its collections.

The Library holds and displays extensive material related to Joseph Banks and the early colonisation of Australia, both onsite and online, providing opportunities for people to look at these historical documents and make their own conclusions.

For instance, our 200th Anniversary exhibitions also feature Banks’s Endeavour Journals, and extensive Banks papers have been digitised and are available online.

Since the opening of the 200th Anniversary program, visitation to the Library has increased by over 20% indicating strong interest in all our programs and activities.

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IMAGE CREDIT / NSW STATE LIBRARY