- Captain Cook statue vandalised ahead of Australia Day
- Police have launched an investigation into the incident
- The statue is associated with Britain’s colonisation of Australia
Captain Cook statue vandalised ahead of Australia Day
A statue of Captain James Cook in Sydney has been defaced with red paint and damaged, just days before the Australia Day weekend. Police have launched an investigation into the incident, marking the second time the monument has been targeted in the past year.
Australia Day, observed annually on 26 January, commemorates the arrival of Britain’s First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788. However, the date is contentious, with many Indigenous Australians regarding it as a day of mourning due to its association with colonisation and its impact on Indigenous communities.
The statue, located in the suburb of Randwick, has been a local landmark since its unveiling in 1874. Vandals reportedly disfigured parts of the face, nose, and one hand. Randwick Council condemned the act, with Councillor Carolyn Martin calling it “a disservice to the community and reconciliation.”
The statue had previously been vandalised in February last year, also with red paint, resulting in damage to its sandstone base. Repairs were completed a month later. Similar incidents have occurred at other Captain Cook statues across Australia, particularly around Australia Day, reflecting ongoing debates about the country’s colonial history.