Vandals attack Captain Cook statue in Fitzroy Gardens just weeks after it was reinstalled

Police say vandals who used an angle grinder in an attempt to cut the head off a statue of Captain Cook in Fitzroy Gardens will be treated “as criminals” instead of protesters.

Vandals who used an angle grinder in an attempt to cut the head off a statue of Captain Cook will be treated “as criminals” instead of protesters.

Three alleged offenders were on Tuesday afternoon being sought by police after an attempt to cut the head off the statue was unsuccessful.

A security patrol alerted police to the trio vandalising the Captain Cook statue in Fitzroy Gardens about 2am on Tuesday.

Police say an angle grinder was used in an attempt to cut the head off while anti-Cook comments were sprayed on Cooks’ Cottage nearby.

Victoria Police Detective Inspector Martin McLean said the alleged criminals would be caught if they didn’t hand themselves in.

Melbourne Council staff inspect damage to the Captain Cook statue at the Fitzroy Gardens. Picture: Jason Edwards

Vandals tried to cut the statue’s head off. Picture: Jason Edwards

Three people attempted to cut the head from the Captain Cook statue on Tuesday. Picture: City of Melbourne

He said the force would not tolerate any form of vandalism, even in the form of a protest.

“The community has a pretty dim view on people who behave in this manner in public,” he said.

“I don’t see them as protesters, I see them as criminals and that’s how we’ll deal with them.”

It’s believed new security measures installed by the City of Melbourne spooked the vandals including lights and a voiceover warning the activists they were being monitored on CCTV.

That footage shows the three alleged crooks attempting to cut the head off the statue before fleeing the scene.

“I don’t believe they had enough time to actually be successful,” Insp. McLean added.

“They come back at their own peril.”

Spray paint was quickly removed from Cooks’ cottage on Tuesday morning. Picture: David Crosling

The statue remains in place at the garden after a failed decapitation attempt. Picture: Jason Edwards

The statue, which was left with slash marks on the neck, was inspected by Melbourne council staff on Tuesday morning.

Graffiti at Cooks’ cottage was quickly cleaned before visitors arrived to the garden.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece condemned the attack stating that “defacing or damaging city assets will not be tolerated”.

“Our security team observed Cook’s Cottage and the Captain Cook statue being damaged early on Tuesday morning – and implemented measures that prompted offenders to leave the scene,” the Mayor said.

“While there are a range of views on statues and memorials, each time a monument is damaged, it’s ultimately the ratepayer footing the bill – and that is unacceptable,” he said.

The attack comes just weeks after City of Melbourne repaired and reinstalled the statue following an attack last year.

Activists sawed off the statue off its pedestal in the early hours of February 26, 2024.

The Captain Cook statue was cut down from its pedestal in February last year. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The City of Port Phillip also repaired and reinstated a Captain Cook statue in Catani Gardens in St Kilda on November 1 last year after it was cut from its stone base and vandalised in the lead up to last year’s Australia Day.

Another Captain Cook statue at Catani Gardens in St Kilda was cut down in January 2024. Picture: Instagram

Premier Jacinta Allan said the latest attack was an act of “senseless vandalism”.

“We’ve simply got to come back to some central elements of respect,” she said.

“It has no place in our community … It advances no cause.”

Detectives have secured CCTV in an attempt to identify the vandals but are calling on anyone with information or dashcam vision to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 of visit crimestoppers.com.au.