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Vandals have tried to decapitate a statue of Captain Cook and sprayed graffiti on a historic cottage in Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan labelled the attack “senseless vandalism,” stating it “has no place” in society.
“It advances no cause,” the premier told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.
“We’ll work with council authorities around any restoration of repair work that needs to be undertaken,” she said.
Victoria Police reported that two people arrived at Fitzroy Gardens around 2am and spray-painted “anti-Cook comments” on the cottage.
“The Captain Cook statue, which also stands in the gardens, has been damaged by what appears to be an attempt to remove the head,” a police spokesman said.
The vandals fled after security staff told them they were being recorded, according to Melbourne lord mayor Nick Reece.
“While there are a range of views on statues and memorials, each time a monument is damaged, it’s ultimately the ratepayer footing the bill — and that is unacceptable,” he said.
The cottage was built in 1755 by James Cook’s father in Yorkshire, England, and was later relocated to Melbourne by Sir Russell Grimwade in 1934.
when a Captain Cook statue in Sydney was splattered with red paint, and its hand and nose were damaged just before Australia Day.
Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage of the latest incident and have urged anyone with information, or dashcam footage, to contact Crimestoppers.
