‘Little or no signific­ance’: Destroyed Captain Cook statue unlikely to be replaced

The City of Yarra is set to vote on whether to restore the vandalised monument in Edinburgh Gardens but one councillor says it would be a waste of money because “it is going to get ripped down again”.

The Captain Cook memorial at Edinburgh Gardens was spray-painted and knocked over on Sunday morning. Picture: Josie Hayden

A vandalised Capt­ain Cook monument in Edinburgh Gardens is unlikely to be replaced amid fears it will be targeted again.

An email sent to City of Yarra councill­ors has detailed that several attacks on the monument had resulted in “the poor integrity of the object”.

The email also noted that the memorial, as an item in the park, had “little or no signific­ance”.

Councillor Stephen Jolly said there were better ways to spend the money.

Attacks on the statue have resulted in ‘poor integrity of the object’.

There are concerns the statue will be targeted by vandals again. Picture: Josie Hayden

“Even people who love Captain Cook, who love Australia Day will see that repairing a statue that costs thousands to fix isn’t the most important thing to spend money on,” Mr Jolly said.

“Residents want better bin services, more childcare services, cheaper swimming pools.

All of these things are a better way of spending the money on a statue that we know is absolutely certain that is going to get ripped down again.”

The decision will go to a council meeting for a decision.