Hand, Nose Broken Off Earliest Statue of Explorer Captain Cook

The iconic statue in Randwick, damaged just days before Australia Day, was first installed in 1874.

A statue of early English explorer Captain James Cook damaged and graffitied in the lead-up to Australia Day. (Courtesy of Randwick City Council).

A sandstone statue of early British explorer Captain James Cook has been splashed with red paint, while its hand and nose have been broken off.

The statue, located in Sydney’s eastern suburb of Randwick, was previously damaged in February 2024, requiring the Randwick Council to clean and repair the site, despite calls from the Greens to remove it.