Vandals Deface 270-Year-Old Cottage, Attempt to Behead Statue of Captain Cook

The Victorian premier and Melbourne mayor have condemned the incident.

A vandalised statue of early explorer Captain Cook at Fitzory Garden, Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 25, 2025. AAP Image/Diego Fedele

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen has condemned the vandalism of another statue of early explorer Captain James Cook this year.

This time, vandals also targeted the 270-year-old cottage of Cook’s parents in Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens with graffiti—it was previously defaced in 2014—while attempting to saw off the head of the Cook statue.