In a brazen act of vandalism that has outraged locals, Melbourne's historic Hochgurtel Fountain has been defaced with extensive graffiti. The iconic water feature, a cherished gift from the city's Austrian sister city, Vienna, was discovered on Monday morning covered in bright pink spray paint.
The attack left the fountain's elegant granite base and surrounding paving slabs marred by the unsightly tags. Council workers were swiftly dispatched to the scene to begin the delicate cleanup process, which is expected to take several days.
A Gift Defaced: Symbolism Lost on Vandals
The fountain is not just a piece of street furniture; it is a symbol of international friendship and goodwill. Installed in 1983, it was a gift from Vienna to celebrate the sister-city relationship between the two cultural capitals. Its desecration has been felt as an insult to both the city of Melbourne and its European partners.
A Melbourne City Council spokesman expressed profound disappointment, stating: "It's incredibly disheartening to see public art treated with such disrespect. This fountain is a valued part of our city's landscape and its history."
The Cost of Cleanliness: Who Pays for the Damage?
Such acts of vandalism place a significant financial burden on the public purse. The specialised cleaning required to remove spray paint from historic stonework without causing further damage is a costly and time-consuming process. Ultimately, it is the taxpayer who foots the bill for the mindless actions of a few individuals.
This incident has reignited discussions about the need for increased security patrols around the city's public art installations and monuments to protect them from similar attacks in the future.
