‘Under increasing scrutiny’: Geelong Mayor considers more security for vandalised statue

Geelong’s mayor has revealed what’s next for the city’s Queen Victoria statue after it was torn down by vandals.

Geelong’s Queen Victoria statue is expected to cost council $10,000 to reinstall after it was torn down by vandals last month.

The City of Greater Geelong is also considering adding lighting and CCTV cameras around the statue to ward off future attacks.

Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan’s confirmation of the statue’s return follows weeks of uncertainty about its future. Mr Sullivan said the work would likely take more than a year to complete.

“Projects of this type require engaging expert specialists and significant planning,” he said.

“It could take in excess of 12 months.”

It is not yet known exactly how much the project will cost ratepayers, but it is expected to be largely covered by insurance except for a $10,000 deductible.

The Queen Victoria rests near its plinth after it was torn down last month. Picture: Alison Wynd

Police are still investigating who was behind the two acts of criminal damage to the statue in March. Photo: Supplied

The historic statue, erected in Eastern Gardens in 1912, has been the target of vandals on two separate occasions this year – once on March 1 and again on March 14.

During the first raid, unknown offenders poured pink paint over the figure of Queen Victoria and spray painted “The colony will fall” at the base of the plinth on which the statue stood.

Within a fortnight, vandals returned to the site, this time tearing the statue down and spray painting “The colony can fall” on the stone monument.

Victoria Police confirmed no one had been arrested in relation to either incident, but investigations remained “ongoing”.

The attacks followed similar incidents in Melbourne, where a sculpture of Captain Cook was torn from its base in St Kilda the night before Australia Day in January.

Mr Sullivan said monuments that celebrated colonial history were “under increasing scrutiny” around the world.

He added that part of the restoration would include speaking with the community and traditional owners and First Nations groups to better share “the truthful story of this region”.

Originally published as ‘Under increasing scrutiny’: Geelong Mayor considers more security for vandalised statue