A Captain Cook statue in Melbourne has been sawn off at its ankles on the eve of January 26.
The statue in St Kilda's Catani Gardens was found this morning on the grass beside its podium, which was vandalised in red paint that read 'the colony will fall'.
It was reported at 3.30am on Thursday, with police launching an investigation.
Police have said several people were loitering at the time of the incident.
Photos of the statue are going viral on social media fuelling debate around Australia Day.
The Queen Victoria monument in the city's Queen Victoria Gardens was also doused in red paint.
Council workers arrived at the site early to clean the statue.
The Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the vandalism saying it had "no place" in the state's community.
She assured that the statue of Captain Cook would be repaired and reinstated.
Vandalised statue of Captain James Cook in St Kilda. Source: NITV / NITV
In 2018, it was doused in pink paint, and 2022 in red.
At the time, Melbourne-based organisation Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance (WAR) told NITV it was an expression of frustration.
“It shows how frustrated and angry the community is with the continued celebrations of invasion, colonisation and murder. People are frustrated and angry and this is one of the ways that is being expressed,” said Crystal McKinnon.
In 2021, security guards were employed to guard the statue on the night before January 26 to stop expected vandalism.
