A statue of Captain Cook in Melbourne has been hacked down, and a statue of Queen Victoria has been defaced, on the eve of Australia Day.
Both incidents occurred on the morning of Jan. 25.
“Members of the public reported the Captain Cook Memorial in Jacka Boulevard had been vandalised about 3.30 a.m.,” a Victoria Police spokesperson told The Epoch Times in a statement.
“It is understood the statue was sawn off at the ankles.
“Several people were seen loitering in the area around the time of the incident.”
Protestors also graffitied, “The colony will fall,” with red paint on the stone underneath the statue.
Council workers have loaded the fallen Captain Cook statue onto a truck and have driven it away. The statue has been standing since 1914.
Police were also called to Queen Victoria Gardens on St. Kilda Road at 9 a.m. to report that a statue of Queen Victoria had been vandalised with red paint. The message “the colony will fall” was also graffitied on the statue.
State Leaders Lambast Vandals
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen said this “sort of vandalism, has no place in our society.” She has committed to work with the Port Phillip council to reinstate the statue of Captain Cook.“Obviously, Victoria Police are investigating the circumstances around what’s happened to these statues overnight, and we’ll let Victoria Police undertake their work, and I’d also encourage anyone with information about what’s happened overnight to come forward through Crimestoppers or directly through to Victoria Police,” Ms. Allen told reporters.
Opposition leader, John Pesutto, said the incident was “totally unacceptable.”
“There’s no place for acts of vandalism, or any other violent acts against people, or property in our community,” he said.
“We support the right of people to protest and demonstrate but it must always be done in a peaceful and respectful way.”
Port Phillip council mayor, Heather Cunsolo, said she was “disappointed” by the vandalism committed on the statue, and added that her council supported a dawn “mourning reflection ceremony” held by traditional owners promoting unity and reconciliation on Friday, Jan. 26.
“We understand and acknowledge the complex and diverse views surrounding Australia Day,” Ms. Cunsolo said. “We can’t condone, however, the vandalism of a public asset where costs will be ultimately borne by ratepayers.”
The statue was graffitied with pink paint in 2018 and red paint in 2022.
However, Bella d’Abrera, director of the Institute of Public Affairs’ Foundations of Western Civilisation Program, said the vandals were ignorant of history.
“The vandalism this morning underscores the ignorance of those who want to cancel Australia Day. Captain Cook had been dead for nearly ten years before the First Fleet arrived on 26 January 1788.
“Captain Cook was one of the greatest explorers who ever lived, and today there is still much to learn from his great legacy.”
She added that Jan. 26 is “more than just a date.”
“It represents the establishment of modern Australia as a free and fair country, it rightly should be celebrated. Mainstream Australians understand that cancelling Australia Day is an assault on the Australian way of life.”
Police are still investigating the above matters, and has urged anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or to submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
