Authorities in Australia have launched an investigation following an incident in which a statue of Captain James Cook was vandalised with red paint and damaged just before the upcoming Australia Day weekend.
The statue in Sydney has faced vandalism for the second time in 12 months.
Australia Day, observed annually on January 26, marks the anniversary of the arrival of Britain’s First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788. Numerous Indigenous Australians express that the date brings them significant distress.
The local council in Randwick, the suburb housing the statue, condemned the vandalism, labelling it “a disservice to the community and a disservice to reconciliation.”
Councillor Carolyn Martin informed listeners on Sydney radio station 2GB that the vandals had removed one hand and portions of the face and nose.
The statue, which was unveiled in 1874, was damaged by vandalism in February of the previous year when it was splashed with red paint. Its sandstone components were destroyed. One month later, efforts to repair and restore the site were finalised.
Numerous Captain Cook statues can be found throughout Australia, and reports indicate that several were vandalised on or around January 26.
In Melbourne, a significant event unfolded in 2024 when a statue was removed just before the holiday, its base defaced with the phrase “the colony will fall.” Two years prior, in a striking display of protest, the statue was doused in red paint. Additionally, in 2018, graffiti reading “no pride” was engraved, accompanied by the placement of an Aboriginal flag nearby.
In 1770, Cook navigated Australia’s east coast, establishing a foundation for the subsequent decision to dispatch the First Fleet, commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip.
Australia Day has become a polarising holiday, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, who perceive it as a symbol of the dispossession and displacement experienced by their ancestors.
For numerous Australians, this day is recognised as a significant occasion for nation-building and celebrating achievements. Recent polling indicates that a substantial portion of the population favours maintaining the holiday, even in light of proposals to shift it to an alternative date.
