Captain Cook Statue Vandalized in Melbourne Ahead of Australia Day

Victoria Police are investigating an act of vandalism on a century-old Captain Cook statue in St Kilda, Melbourne. The incident occurred on the eve of Australia Day, and another statue of Queen Victoria was also vandalized in the city center. The police received reports of the vandalized Captain Cook memorial near Jacka Boulevard at around 3:30 am on Thursday. The statue had been sawn off at the ankles, and the plinth was spray-painted with the words ‘The colony will fall.’

nn

The monument, unveiled in December 1914, is considered to be the first major memorial to Captain Cook in Australia. It commemorates the date of Cook’s departure from Plymouth in 1768, marking his first voyage that included charting the east coast of Australia. The statue in St Kilda is a replica of the one in England, as Cook did not visit Port Phillip.

nn

Simultaneously, the memorial of Queen Victoria in the Queen Victoria Gardens was found vandalized, with red paint sprayed over it and the same message graffitied on it. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan strongly condemned the vandalism, stating that such acts have no place in society. She pledged to work with the council to repair and reinstate the statue in St Kilda.

nn

Opposition leader John Pesutto also criticized the incident, calling it entirely unacceptable. He emphasized the importance of peaceful and respectful protests while supporting the right to demonstrate. Heather Cunsolo, the mayor of Port Phillip council, expressed disappointment over the vandalism and clarified that the council cannot justify the damage caused to a public asset, which will ultimately be paid for by the ratepayers. The council has arranged for a security guard for the statue starting Thursday. However, the latest attack occurred before the security guards were scheduled to arrive.

nn

This is not the first time the Captain Cook statue has been targeted. In previous instances, it was doused in pink paint and later in red. The statue has faced ongoing criticism from organizations like Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance (WAR), who view it as a celebration of colonization and oppression. The statue’s presence has sparked community frustration and anger towards the continued commemoration of the invasion of Aboriginal lands.