Toppled Captain Cook statue in St Kilda to be reinstated, future of two others yet to be determined

Months on from vandals ripping down Captain Cook statues across Melbourne, it is still unclear if they will all be reinstated.

A Captain Cook statue – one of three toppled and vandalised by protesters across Melbourne at the start of the year – is set to be reinstated by October, but the future of the others is yet to be determined.

A 110-year-old bronze statue of the British explorer in St Kilda and a commemorative monument in Fitzroy North were targeted in late January around Australia Day.

The statue – believed to be the first memorial to Captain Cook in Victoria – was dramatically felled from its tall plinth at Catani Gardens with a noose around its neck, while the monument was hacked from its base at Edinburgh Gardens.

Weeks later, a second bronze statue in East Melbourne next to Cooks’ Cottage at Fitzroy Gardens was sawn off at the ankles with a grinder in late February.

The Captain Cook statue at Catani Gardens in St Kilda was damaged on January 25. Source: Instagram

The Captain Cook monument at Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy North was vandalised on February 28. Picture: Josie Hayden

Almost five months on, none of the statues have been reinstated.

However, Port Phillip City Council mayor Heather Cunsolo told the Herald Sun she anticipates that its statue will be reinstated at Catani Gardens by October.

“Permits have now been issued and in accordance with the terms of the permit, restoration works are currently being undertaken,” she said, noting that the council was working with Heritage Victoria.

“While there will be no differences to the statue’s design, there are several permit conditions which the council is working through which will impact the timeline for reinstatement.

“These conditions include the requirement to provide contextual information or interpretation alongside the statue.

“The council is consulting with traditional owners groups as part of the process.”

The Captain Cook statue at Cooks’ Cottage was sawn off its base on February 26. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

But the City of Melbourne was not able to provide a timeline as it assesses its options for the repair of its 50-year-old bronze statue, which was located next to Cooks’ Cottage.

“We’re working with specialists to assess the damage to the Captain Cook statue and determine options for its repair,” a spokeswoman said.

“An update will be provided to the community in the coming months.”

The Herald Sun understands the City of Melbourne is exploring ways the statue can be reinforced to prevent future damage.

However, in late January, on the recommendation of council officers, Yarra City Council began considering the permanent removal of its monument both from Edinburgh Gardens and its collection in the wake of the attack.

The Herald Sun understands that a decision is yet to be made by council management.

The Captain Cook statue at Catani Gardens in St Kilda is believed to be the first memorial to Captain Cook in Victoria. Picture: Jason Edwards

The statue is expected to be reinstated by October. Picture: David Crosling

Port Phillip City Council discussed the future of its statue at a tense council meeting in February, with a motion put forward by councillor Robbie Nyaguy.

He requested a community engagement process to “understand views on the reinstatement or removal of the statue ahead of any works being undertaken”.

But the motion was voted down, allowing the council to move forward with the statue’s reinstatement.

Mr Nyaguy told the Herald Sun at the time that consultation was the “most mature” option.

“Personally, I wouldn’t put him back,” he said.

“The only way we can come together as a country to reflect on our history, both the dark moments and the lighter ones, is to come together and have a conversation.”

However, fellow councillor Marcus Pearl said the motion neglected the “importance of historical context and the need for a balanced understanding of our heritage”.

“The Captain Cook statue is a marker of our past, with all its intricacies and lessons,” he said.

THE COLONY WILL FALL.

CRYM has received this video from an anonymous source, with the following message.

This morning in Naarm, the Captain Cook statue was toppled and the Queen Victoria statue covered in blood.#AustraliaDay26Jan#CaptainCook#CRYMpic.twitter.com/cqfioGYLGq

— CRYM (@CRYM_Earth) January 25, 2024

Footage of the felling at Cooks’ Cottage was posted to Instagram in late February by an anonymous account.

“Yet another monument to the imperialist James Cook has been felled in so-called Melbourne. Rumour has it that this was the last remaining Cook statue in the city,” the post reads.

“Monuments such as this only serve to prop up the narrative that enables so-called Australia’s continuing theft and desecration of land and life, and to legitimise its ongoing violence.”

No arrests have been made despite three separate police investigations.

“Several people were seen loitering in the area around the time of the incident, however, despite exhaustive inquiries, no one has been arrested,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said of the St Kilda incident.

Yarra City Council was contacted for comment.