Melbourne's Colonial Monuments Vandalised Ahead of Australia Day
Two significant historical monuments in Melbourne have been deliberately damaged in what authorities are describing as a serious act of vandalism, occurring during a period of national mourning following the Bondi Beach terror attack. The incidents took place near the city's central business district, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding Australia's colonial history.
Monuments Toppled and Defaced
The Pioneer Monument, erected in 1871 within Melbourne's Flagstaff Gardens, was discovered early on Thursday morning completely toppled and broken into multiple pieces. Graffiti had been sprayed across its base, with the damage believed to have occurred overnight. Nearby, the Separation Memorial, which commemorates Victoria's political separation from New South Wales, was also targeted with spray paint but remained standing.
According to the City of Melbourne's official records, the Pioneer Monument was designed by Samuel Craven and honours early European settlers buried in the vicinity. Its inscription reads: "Erected in 1871 to the memory of some of the earliest of the pioneers of this colony whose remains were interred near this spot." The Separation Memorial was installed in 1950 to mark the centenary of Victoria's colonial government proclamation.
Political Condemnation and Police Investigation
Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan strongly criticised the incident, describing it as a "disgrace" and emphasising that such actions introduce hate and destruction during what should be a time of unity. "The groups who continue to commit these crimes must face the full force of the law," she stated firmly.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece echoed these sentiments, declaring: "Defacing or damaging city assets in Melbourne will not – and cannot – be tolerated. We can have a debate about the future of statues and memorials, but we will never tolerate or reward vandalism."
Police have confirmed that an investigation is actively underway, with preliminary assessments suggesting that heavy equipment was used to pull down the Pioneer Monument. Authorities estimate the damage occurred between 10pm on Wednesday and 6am on Thursday morning.
Symbolism and Historical Context
Both monuments were marked with red triangles, a symbol that extremism experts have identified as having violent connotations. Deakin University specialist Josh Roose explained to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that this symbol has been used by Hamas in propaganda to designate targets and represents inherently violent messaging.
These incidents occur during the annual lead-up to Australia Day on 26th January, a date that has become increasingly contentious in recent years. While many Australians celebrate with traditional barbecues and beach trips, and immigrants often receive citizenship on this day, activists refer to it as "Invasion Day" – marking the beginning of sustained discrimination and dispossession of Indigenous peoples without treaty negotiations.
This follows a pattern of similar incidents targeting statues connected to colonial history. Last year, just before Australia Day, a century-old statue of Captain James Cook was sawn off at the ankles while another depicting Queen Victoria was doused in red paint, indicating a recurring pattern of protest through monument vandalism during this sensitive period.
