In a Facebook post on Thursday, Jack Davenport urged the state government to give Aboriginal Tasmanians the opportunity to decide on a new name for the bridge.

It comes amid a mounting global push, spurred on by the Black Lives Matter movement, to tear down monuments to racist historical figures.

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"John Batman's role in the massacre and persecution of Aboriginal Tasmanians can't be ignored any longer," Mr Davenport wrote.

"We can't continue to lionise figures like John Batman.

"Removing his name from a bridge does not remove him from history, it just acknowledges we should not celebrate those responsible for brutal killings and persecution.

"This bridge could honour the language, culture, and history of the Aboriginal community, instead of celebrating a man who committed horrific acts of violence. We can't keep ignoring the deep pain associated with the invasion of lutruwita, or the ongoing distress it has caused."

During Tasmania's notorious Black War, Batman - with the imprimatur of Lieutenant Governor George Arthur - formed roving parties to hunt down Aboriginal people. Batman himself would go on to sanction massacres.

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He had a Victorian electorate named after him until recently. In 2018, it was renamed Cooper, in honour of indigenous rights campaigner William Cooper.

Here in Northern Tasmania, however, the bridge connecting the Hillwood and Deviot banks of the Tamar River still bears his name. Chairman of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Michael Mansell has called for the bridge's name to be scrapped in favour of something different.

Bass Liberal MHA Michael Ferguson said the government was open to discussions about renaming places but added that "you can't change your history".

"There is no policy for changing names," he said.