Colonial statue vandalised in Sydney's eastern suburbs

Jarred Cross Published January 24, 2025 at 8.45am (AWST)

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Police are investigating an incident in Randwick after a statue of James Cook was vandalised overnight. (Image: Phoebe Blogg)

A statue in Sydney's eastern suburbs of colonial figure James Cook has been vandalised for a second time within 12 months, 48 hours ahead of January 26.

The statue on the corner of Avoca Street and Belmore Road in Randwick was doused with red paint and damaged overnight.

NSW Police confirmed investigations into the incident has begun with a crime scene established and a number of items seized by police.

"A crime scene has been established, which will be forensically examined by specialist police," a NSW Police spokesperson on Friday.

"Police are working with Randwick Council to assist with the removal of the graffiti."

The same statue was targeted in a similar incident in February last year.

It follows a string of colonial statue vandalism across the country around the public holiday.

Randwick City Council condemned the vandalism of the heritage statue in a statement on Friday.

"Vandalism has no place in public discussion," the statement read.

"Vandalism is an illegal act that does a disservice to progressing your cause, a disservice to the community and a disservice to reconciliation.

"Council staff are currently actioning plans to clean and restore the statue."

Randwick City Councillor Carolyn Martin labelled the vandalism in Sydney "disgraceful behaviour".

Randwick's James Cook statue was found covered in red paint on Friday. (Image: Phoebe Blogg)

"It's an absolute mess," she told 2GB Radio. "They've splattered paint all over it...they've managed to get to the top of the statue, and they've knocked his hand off and also part of his face and nose".

"It's absolutely disgraceful behaviour. We're all horrified."

Councillor Martin said repairs to last year's damage were at the council's expense.

In relation to the incident, Councillor Andrew Hay reportedly said: "Low lives in Randwick know no bounds, or have any reverence for great people of history, and will vandalise him to make a political point that he's not directly related to."

In Victoria last year a number of colonial monuments were targeted, including a Queen Victoria monument at Queen Victoria Gardens and Cook monuments in St Kilda and in the inner-north in Naarm on days either side of January 26.

Similar incidents occurred in Fitzroy Gardens, Geelong and Hobart in the following months.

Earlier this week, monuments of former Labor Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Paul Keating were also targeted among 20 statues at Ballarat Botanical Gardens.